Two dead in new migrant boat tragedy off Lesvos island, more than 200 rescued in three incidents

A two-year-old boy and a 34- year-old woman lost their lives on Wednesday, the latest tragedy in the Aegean Sea, when a boat carrying undocumented migrants and refugees from Turkey to Greece capsized, the Greek Coast Guard have confirmed.

The nationalities of the victims have not yet been clarified, nor have the circumstances of the vessel's sinking off the coast of Lesvos island amid strong winds.

According to initial information, the inflatable boat was first spotted by a Turkish passenger vessel which then alerted the Greek authorities.

Forty-eight people were saved during the rescue operation, which involved the Greek Coast Guard and another Turkish tourist boat that was sailing nearby. The two dead bodies were recovered. Survivors told authorities there were no missing people.

"We did what we could. It was so touching seeing Greeks and Turkish people, crew members, the Coast Guard, and passengers trying to rescue people. I will never forget these moments in my life," the Turkish boat's captain Mehmet Ali told Greek national news agency AMNA.

Meanwhile, the Greek Coast Guard was also called on Wednesday to a nearby area off Lesvos where a total of 40 refugees and migrants were rescued.

A third incident, which also occurred off the shores of the same island, saw a total of 153 people rescued.

Lesvos has received the biggest bulk of the more than 360,000 undocumented migrants and refugees who have reached Greece from Turkey's shores this year, according to the latest data from the Greek authorities.

Greek Coast Guard forces on the island have been reinforced lately to deal with the challenge.

More than 3,000 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea this year. Endit