Thirty-three people on board were rescued, including six children, the Greek coastguard reported. They were taken to a hospital on Leros, an island off the Turkish coast. The rescue operation is still underway to remove possible other people on board from the water.
The Coast Guard deployed three ships and a helicopter. Rescue efforts are hampered by bad weather. There is strong wind and a wild sea. According to testimony collected by Coast Guard and police, the boat had nearly 40 people on board.
The Efsyn newspaper reported that a fisherman had alerted the emergency services. The fisherman had found the bodies, it was said.