Jan 28 Twelve migrants drowned when their boat sank off a Greek island close to Turkey, the Greek coastguard said on Thursday, as people continue to make crossings to Europe despite the harsh winter conditions.<br />"A man who managed to swim to the shore told Greek authorities the boat carried 40 to 45 people," a coastguard official said.<br />The sinking occurred late on Wednesday north of the island of Samos in the eastern Aegean Sea, close to the Turkish coast.<br />Nine people have been rescued so far, and Frontex and coastguard vessels are looking for other survivors.<br />More than 600,000 refugees and migrants fleeing Syria, Afghanistan and other war-torn countries arrived in Greece from Turkey last year, risking the short but dangerous sea crossing, often on inflatable rafts.<br />Hundreds have drowned.
