Egypt has confirmed that 18 of its citizens are still missing after a migrant boat capsized near the Greek island of Crete in a deadly incident last week.
The wooden vessel was carrying around 50 people, including several minors, when Greek coast guard authorities received a distress alert late Friday and dispatched assistance with the help of a nearby commercial ship.
During rescue efforts, passengers attempted to move onto the rescue vessel using ladders. Authorities say a sudden shift in weight caused the overcrowded boat to overturn, throwing many people into the sea.
Egypt’s foreign ministry stated that 21 Egyptians were believed to have been on board. Three were later confirmed dead, while search operations continue for the remaining 18 missing nationals.
Reports also indicated that a Sudanese woman was among those who lost their lives.
Greek authorities and rescue teams have continued efforts to locate survivors and determine the exact cause of the accident as concerns grow over the safety of migrant sea crossings in the Mediterranean.
