At least 15 dead as boats with 40 sink in Greek waters

At least 15 people have died as two boats carrying migrants sank in Greek waters late Wednesday, and rescuers were looking for dozens still missing, authorities said early Thursday.

The coast guard said 15 bodies had been recovered near the eastern island of Lesbos after a dinghy carrying about 40 people sank. Five people were rescued and three had been found on a rocky outcrop near the site of the sinking. A second rescue effort was launched several hundred miles west, near the island of Kythira, where a sailboat carrying about 100 migrants hit rocks and sank late Wednesday.

Officials said 30 people had been rescued after a boat hit rocks off the village port of Diakofti on the east of the island. The wind in the area was up to 45 mph.

We could see the boat smashing against the rocks and people climbing up the rocks to try and save themselves. Martha Stathaki, a local resident, told The Associated Press it was an unbelievable sight. All the residents went down to the harbor to try and help. The rescuers of the fire service lowered ropes to help migrants climb up cliffs on the seafront. Local officials said a school would be opened to provide shelter for the rescued. Navy divers were expected to arrive Thursday.

Most of the migrants arriving in Greece come from Turkey, but smugglers have changed routes in recent months in an effort to avoid heavily patrolled waters around Greek islands near the Turkish coastline.

Kythira is located about 250 miles west of Turkey and on a route that is often used by smugglers to bypass Greece and head directly to Italy.