At least one person has died and 25 others remain missing after a boat carrying migrants sank south of the Greek island of Gavdos, near Crete.
The Greek Coast Guard said 51 people were rescued after the vessel went down in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday. Survivors told authorities that 77 people had been aboard the boat, which was travelling towards Greece from Libya.
One person was found unconscious in the water and was later confirmed dead, while the search for those still missing continued on Monday.
The incident occurred about 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) south of Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost inhabited island.
A major search-and-rescue operation has been launched in the area, involving Greek Coast Guard vessels, commercial ships and aircraft operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex.
Four nearby vessels were initially involved in rescuing survivors, while additional Coast Guard and Frontex vessels and a helicopter were sent to assist with the search.
The rescued migrants were taken aboard vessels participating in the operation and were expected to be transported to Crete, where they would undergo the relevant procedures.
The sinking occurred along a migration route that has become increasingly important for people attempting to reach Europe from North Africa.
Crete and Gavdos, which lie relatively close to the Libyan coast, have experienced a rise in migrant arrivals, particularly from Libya, as other Mediterranean routes have seen changes in traffic.
Gavdos is about 320 kilometres from the Libyan coast, making the waters around the island one of the routes used by migrant boats attempting the journey towards Greece.
The latest incident adds to the dangers faced by migrants making the crossing in often overcrowded and poorly equipped vessels.
The disaster comes as Greece continues to deal with significant migrant arrivals across its southern maritime borders.
The precise circumstances that caused the boat to sink also remain unclear.
The immediate priority is the search for the 25 people still missing, while authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the sinking and identify those who died and those rescued.