1st LD Writethru: 11 dead in refugee vessel tragedy off Greek island

ATHENS, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of the sinking of a refugee and migrant sailing boat on Thursday off the island of Antikythera on the edge of the Aegean Sea has reached 11, the Hellenic Coast Guard announced on Friday.

Ninety passengers were rescued and transferred to Piraeus port, according to an e-mailed press statement.

A rescue operation was still underway.

The vessel had set sail fr