1st Ld: Refugee boat tragedy survivors will not disembark at Greek port: sources

Hundreds of refugees and migrants rescued from a sinking vessel south of Crete island on Friday will not disembark at a Greek port, according to Greek Coast Guard sources.

Four died and 340 passengers were been rescued as hundreds of people were being evacuated from the half- sunken 25-meter wooden vessel. The migrants were believed to have been on board the ship which was located some 120 km off the port Kali Limenes

A still unclear number of people are missing, Greek Coast Guard officers told Xinhua from the coordination operation center at Piraeus port.

Some 242 survivors were on their way to Italy as well as the body of one of the victims, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

A further 75 persons and two more bodies will be sent to Port-Said, Egypt, 16 will be sent to Turkey and seven to Malta, according to Greek Coast Guard sources.

The migrant boat issued a distress call while sailing in Egypt's waters. The International Organization of Migration announced that up to 700 people may have been on the vessel.

After a tip off from Egyptian authorities, two Greek Coast Guard vessels, five ships and a Greek air Force Super Puma helicopter rushed to the area.

The rescue operation continues under good weather conditions and the coordination is conducted by the Greek Shipping Ministry operation center.

It is believed that the ship had departed from north Africa heading to Italy.

Experts said since the closing of the Balkan route to central Europe in February and the start of returns to Turkey from the Greek islands in spring, smugglers have shifted their operations from Turkish coasts to the northern African ports.

According to estimates, more than 200 refugees and migrants have reached Crete over the past month. Enditem