Five dead, dozens missing after boat sinks off Greece’s Gavdos

Many people are still missing in the waters off the coast of Greece [File: Greek Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters]

Five people have died after a migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete, according to Greece’s coastguard, with 40 others reported missing and 39 rescued.

A large rescue operation involving vessels and aircraft was under way south of Gavdos after the boat capsized shortly after midnight on Saturday, the coastguard said.