18 Dead As Two Refugee Boats Crash Off Greece

At least 18 people crossing the Mediterranean have died in a pair of unrelated boat accidents, according to Greek officials.

One boat sank off the island of Lesbos after encountering strong winds. There were 40 people on board, reportedly all women.

As of Thursday, 16 of them had been found dead, the Greek coast guard said.

Nine were reportedly saved, while boat and helicopter searches continued for 15 other women.

Meanwhile, a sailboat carrying about 95 refugees and migrants also crashed into a rocky cliff amid strong winds off the island of Kythira.

Rescue crews reported that 80 people had been rescued, but that two had been found dead as of Thursday, totalling 18 people overall.

Greek's coastguard says it has rescued about 1,500 people in the first eight months of the year, up from fewer than 600 last year.

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