Boat Carrying 45 Syrian Refugees Sinks Southeast Of Crete Island

A boat carrying 45 Syrian refugees sank southeast of the Greek island of Crete, Turkish authorities said on Friday.

The boat went down at 9.10 p.m. local time (1800GMT) on Thursday in the search and rescue area of Turkey due to severe weather conditions, the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement.

The boat was sailing to Italy before it ran out of fuel, the statement also said.

Thirty-one refugees were rescued by a Turkish-owned ship in the region, while five were rescued by a Greek helicopter, it said.

Search and rescue efforts continue in the region with two frigates and maritime patrol aircraft belonging to the Turkish Naval Forces Command, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar -