Ansamed

ATHENS - Another day, another tragedy in the Greek waters as it was confirmed on Tuesday that three people had drowned in a second shipwreck involving migrants in the space of three days Greece's coast guard said that they had rescued 16 people after an inflatable rubber boat was spotted on rocks on the coast of Lesvos, but also that three people drowned and two dozen were believed to be missing.

It's the second migrant shipwreck off a Greek island this week, after five migrants - one 20-year old woman and four children - lost their lives on Sunday when a boat carrying dozens of migrants crashed on a rocky coast on the island of Leros amid bad weather conditions of gale force winds and rain.

This time, according to a media statement from the coast guard, two coast guard vessels and a Super Puma helicopter were assisting in the search operation amid strong winds, with survivors claiming that there were 41 people on board the vessel. "So far, sixteen (16) people have been rescued, while three bodies have been recovered," said the coast guard, adding: "The survivors stated that there were about forty-one people on board the boat, which had sailed from the Turkish coast. It should be noted that, when they were located, none of the rescued people had life-saving equipment (life jackets). The prevailing weather conditions are unfavorable with north-easterly winds of intensity 6 Beaufort. Investigations are ongoing and developments will be reported with a newer press release." Lesvos, like Leros, lies in very close proximity to the Turkish coast. Vessels loaded with refugees and migrants - many inflatables but also sailboats, yachts and speedboats - regularly leave Turkey's shores bound for Greece, with some even attempting to reach Italy, all year round irrespective of weather conditions.

Regarding the Leros incident, authorities have confirmed that two men aged 17 and 30 from Afghanistan and Congo were arrested by the Leros Port Authority, who are conducting the preliminary investigation into the shipwreck.

The two men were among the rescued refugees and are facing serious charges such as: causing a shipwreck, exposing lives to danger, manslaughter, and facilitating the entry into Greek territories of citizens of third countries, among other charges.

Only last week, the coast guard intercepted two speedboats carrying a total of 37 migrants off the island of Kos and arrested three alleged traffickers. One of the boats was carrying 20 migrants and two of the alleged traffickers, while the other had 17 migrants and another suspected trafficker on board.