At least 78 migrants drowned early and more were feared missing after their overloaded boat capsized and sank off Greece in one of Europe's deadliest shipwrecks this year
By midday, 104 people had been rescued, authorities said, but it remained unclear how many were on board when the vessel - whose occupants the coast guard said had refused an offer of help late on Tuesday - went under.
State broadcaster ERT said the boat that sank had set sail from the Libyan town of Tobruk, which lies south of the Greek island of Crete, and was headed to Italy. The shipping ministry official said most were from Egypt, Syria and Pakistan, though Greek authorities did not confirm the vessels port of departure.
Numbers have fallen dramatically since a 2016 deal struck between Brussels and Ankara to stem the flows, while the previous conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis had said a tough policy - which included more border patrols and migrant camps under heavy surveillance - helped keep arrivals low.
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