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June 16, 2023

Greek Police Arrest 9 as Hopes Fade for Hundreds of Migrants Missing in Deadly Shipwreck
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Greek authorities have arrested nine Egyptian nationals and charged them
with people-smuggling, after their overloaded fishing vessel capsized
and sank in deep waters off the coast of southern Greece on Wednesday.
Over 100 people were rescued, but hope is fading for an estimated 500
others who remain missing. That includes as many as 100 children who
witnesses say were traveling below deck. It's the deadliest shipwreck
off the Greek coast this year, possibly among the deadliest ever in the
central Mediterranean. Protests in support of the migrants have erupted
across Greece amid reports that a Greek Coast Guard vessel escorted the
trawler for hours and failed to properly render aid as the vessel
capsized. On Thursday, Greek opposition leader Alexis Tsipras visited
with survivors at the port of Kalamata, where he condemned the European
Union's policies on refugees and migrants.

Alexis Tsipras: "I want to say there are huge political responsibilities
with the migration policy that Europe has been following for years, a
migration policy that turns the Mediterranean, our seas, into watery
graves. And I think it is time to speak the truth, because this policy
has to change."