Twelve migrants have been found dead after a boat capsized in western Greece, authorities said today.

Fifteen others were rescued, and coastguards were searching for more possible victims and survivors.

The Merchant Marine Ministry said the incident happened off the coast of Lefkada, an island in the Ionian Sea, and the migrants were presumed to have been heading to nearby Italy. There was no immediate indication of where they began their journey.

Ministry officials said the migrants were using a plastic boat which was about eight metres in length.

The survivors were being taken to a hospital on the island for observation.

Greece is the European Union's busiest transit point for irregular migration.

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