Body found after freighter shipwreck near Lesvos identified as an Egyptian sailor
Greek authorities on Monday announced that the body found at sea on Sunday has been identified as that of an Egyptian sailor from the crew of the shipwrecked freighter "Raptor". The freighter sank off the island of Lesvos on Sunday morning with a crew of 14 on board, of which 12 are still missing.
A second Egyptian sailor was picked up alive by a Hellenic Air Force helicopter on Sunday and was taken to Mytilene Hospital on the island.
A search for the missing crew members continues with the participation of two Coast Guard boats, a Hellenic Navy frigate and four ships that are in the area, as well as a Coast Guard helicopter and a Frontex aircraft.
The 14-member crew was made up of 11 Egyptian nationals, an Indian national and two Syrians. It was carrying salt from Egypt and was bound for Istanbul. The captain of the bulk carrier had reported engine failure and it is surmised that there was a minor ingress of water into the hold that caused the cargo to shift, creating a dangerous list that sank the freighter.