The Greek coastguard reported on Saturday that Greek authorities had recovered a body and rescued 39 migrants after their boat capsized in the Mediterranean off the southern island Gavdos.

Witnesses report that many are still missing. The coastguard, which was alerted to the incident Friday night, has begun a massive search with the help of vessels and aircraft.

Separate incidents occurred on Saturday. A cargo ship under the Malta flag rescued 47 migrants off a boat that was sailing 40 nautical miles from Gavdos. Meanwhile, a tanker saved another 88 migrants about 28 nautical miles away from this tiny island located in southern Greece.

According to initial reports, the coastguard officials believed that all boats had left Libya together.

In 2015-2016, Greece was the preferred gateway into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Nearly 1 million people arrived on its islands mainly via inflatable dinghies.

Over the last year, incidents with migrants boats and shipwrecks have increased off Crete and Gavdos. These two islands are relatively isolated and located in the middle of the Mediterranean. Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Yannis Souliotis and Keith Weir

(source: Reuters)