Search continues for crew of sunken cargo ship in Greek waters

The search continues for 12 crew members missing after a cargo ship sank in rough weather on Sunday. 

Frontex, the European Union’s border and coastguard agency, has joined rescue efforts near the Greek island of Lesbos. 

The Comoros-flagged Raptor was transporting salt from Alexandria, Egypt, to Istanbul and issued a distress signal before sinking. 

It had a crew of 14, including eight Egyptians, four Indians and two Syrians, the Greek coast guard said.

A 40-year-old Egyptian crew member was rescued on Sunday while the body of another Egyptian member of the crew was recovered by a commercial vessel assisting in the search. 

The Raptor first reported mechanical problems at 07:00 Sunday morning, and sent a distress signal at 08:20. 

Shortly after that it disappeared around 8 kilometres southwest of Lesbos, according to the authorities. 

Frontex, which patrols the Lesbos area monitoring for illegal migration, sent a surveillance aircraft and a patrol boat to join the Greek coast guard search.