At least 78 migrants die after boat sinks near Greece

Rescuers searched for survivors Wednesday after a large fishing vessel sank off the coast of southern Greece overnight, killing at least 78 African migrants. The Greek coast guard has rescued at least 104 people after the fishing boat capsized and sank. Authorities have not confirmed how many more passengers are still missing. The rescue mission on Wednesday included six coast guard vessels, a military helicopter, and a drone. 

Where was the boat from? The migrant boat left eastern Libya and was heading for Italy when it capsized. Libyan authorities have launched a major crackdown against migrants in the country, according to a United Nations report. The country has sent some 60,000 migrants back to their home countries since 2015 through “assisted return” programs, which the UN says are supposed to be voluntary. Still, authorities are often making it impossible for the migrants to stay by beating detainees and taking their resources, according to the UN. 

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Onize Ohikere’s World Tour report on the nations and stakeholders involved in Libya’s unrest.