Greece has declared three days of mourning after Wednesday’s shipwreck of a migrant boat off the Peloponnese peninsula in southwestern Greece, an accident that could have caused hundreds of deaths, the interim prime minister’s office announced, AFP reported.

Migrants try to cross the Mediterranean Sea on an inflatable boatPhoto: Valeria Mongelli / AFP / Profimedia

The coast guard said it had recovered 79 bodies and rescued about 100 people, but survivors said there were nearly 750 people on board.

The rescue operation involves the patrol stars of the port police, a frigate of the Greek Navy, an air force plane and helicopter, as well as six ships sailing in the area.

According to the first information of the authorities, the ship with migrants left Libya for Italy. (Agerpress)