Bodies of four more Pakistanis retrieved in Greek boat tragedy

ISLAMABAD: The death toll of Pakistani nationals in the recent boat capsizing incident off southern Greece has risen to nine as the authorities found four more bodies.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) spokesperson, the deceased have been identified as Shabbir, Zain Ali, and Zeeshan, all three hailing from Narowal, along with Owais Ali from Sialkot.

The bodies have been shifted from Greece’s Gavdos Island to a hospital in Athens for processing. The Pakistani Embassy in Greece was making arrangements to send the bodies back to Pakistan.

The process is expected to take approximately one week before the remains can be returned to their families in Pakistan, the FIA official said.

The unfortunate incident took place on the night between December 13 and 14, in which more than 80 Pakistanis drowned after boats carrying them capsized near Greece.

After the incident, the Pakistani Embassy confirmed that as many as 36 Pakistani citizens were rescued and declared others dead as the Greek authorities wrapped up the rescue operation.

The boats, which departed from Libya’s Tobruk port also carried Bangladeshi, Egyptian and Sudanese nationals.