Two women die as migrant boat capsizes off Greek coast

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two women drowned on Thursday when their migrant boat, carrying 29 people, capsized off the Greek coast, the country's coastguard confirmed to Rudaw.

 

The boat, which set off from Turkey, collided with the rocky shoreline of the island Chios, the source said. 

 

The 27 survivors were rescued by the Greek coastguard. A number of them have been hospitalized.

 

Chios is just seven kilometers from Turkey and is Greece's fifth largest island.

 

The nationalities of the victims and survivors have yet to be disclosed. 

 

According to Greek authorities, more than 16,000 irregular migrants have reached the country in the first six months of this year, down from last year's over 60,000. The vast majority of them have traveled across the sea from Turkey.

 

Many Kurds use the deadly route to reach the European Union.