Greece Boat Disaster: How did the authorities respond?

Best of Today - Ein Podcast von BBC Radio 4

At least 78 people have died after a boat sank off the coast of Greece in what is being called 'one of Europe's worst migrant disasters'. The coastguard has been criticised for not intervening earlier but authorities say their offers of aid were refused. With reports suggesting that up to 750 people were aboard the vessel, it’s thought many more people could still be missing at sea. Today's Mishal Husain spoke to BBC correspondent Nick Beake in Kalamata, and Dr Giorgos Vasilagkos, an Hellenic Red Cross volunteer rescue doctor working at the scene. She also spoke to Vincent Cochetel, the UNHCR's special envoy for the Mediterranean and journalist Matina Stevis-Gridneff, who heads up the Brussels bureau for the New York Times.

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