11 refugees drown in heavy seas off Greek island of Samos

Victims include five women, four babies and two children.

Greek authorities say 11 more people have drown on the dangerous crossing from Turkey to Greece after a boat carrying nearly 30 refugees sank in heavy seas near the eastern island of Samos.

A Greek Coast Guard spokeswoman says the victims on Sunday include five women, four babies and two children. Fifteen other passengers have been rescued and there’s an ongoing search for “one or two missing”.

All but one of the victims were retrieved from the sunken 6-metre plastic boat, which lies in waters 3m deep just 20m off the Greek island’s rocky coast.

Winds of up to 50 kmph have been hitting the area.