Greek authorities could have prevented the scale of the boat accident off the country’s coast that could have claimed up to 600 lives, according to the BBC.
According to Greece’s coast guard, the overcrowded migrant boat was denied help as it traveled steadily towards Italy – but coordinates obtained by the British public service company show that the boat was stationary for at least seven hours before it sank. The UN has called on Greece to investigate its handling of the incident to avoid similar future disasters.
Thoughts and prayers
At least 300 Pakistani citizens are said to have died in the accident, Pakistani authorities say according to CNN.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and we pray for the souls of the deceased to find eternal peace,” Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, the speaker of Pakistan’s Senate, wrote in a letter of condolence to the families of the deceased.
“This devastating event demonstrates the urgent need to address and condemn the heinous act of illegal human trafficking,” he continues.
One of the greatest tragedies
Greek authorities have not confirmed Pakistan’s claims.
The UN’s migration agency IOM sees the accident as “one of the greatest tragedies to have occurred in the Mediterranean”. Over a hundred people could be rescued in connection with the sinking. Greek authorities have scaled down the continued active search for survivors.