World

Refugee boy drowns near Greek island after boat engine explodes

Greece has been overwhelmed this year by a migration crisis unseen in Europe since World War II

Afp November 14, 2015

Displaced Iraqi people from the Yazidi community, who fled violence from Islamic State (IS) group look on following their arrival on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey on November 14, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

ATHENS: A three-year-old refugee boy drowned early Saturday near the Greek island of Chios after the engine of the boat his group was sailing in exploded, the Greek coastguard said.

The explosion threw the boat occupants into the water as it lay immobilised in shallows east of the island, the coastguard said.

'My children slipped through my hands': father of drowned Syrian boy

Fifteen other people were rescued, including two that required hospitalisation, it said.

An 18-year-old was arrested as a suspected trafficker.

Greece has been overwhelmed this year by a migration crisis unseen in Europe since World War II.

Greek coastguard says newborn migrant boy found dead

The United Nations on Friday said over 800,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe this year, with over 3,400 dying in the process.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will travel to Turkey next week to press the country's leaders to take a stronger stance against refugee traffickers.