Greece's coast guard revealed its engagement with two separate rescue operations on Tuesday,  in search of dozens of migrants feared missing in gale-force winds. 

A spokesperson for the coast guard stated that nearly 60 people were thought to be missing nearby the island of Evia after their boat capsized in winds exceeding 60 kph (37 mph).

According to a coast guard spokesperson, nine survivors, including Afghans, Egyptians, and Iranians, were saved by Greece's high seas patrol from an islet south of the island of Evia. They "said there were 68 people in total on board the sailboat," Spokesperson Nikos Kokkalas told public television ERT.

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A similar search effort for eight people thought to have been missing since Monday was in progress close to the island of Samos. Four migrants rescued said there were 12 people on board a dinghy that overturned.

People fleeing from Africa and the Middle East travel to Greece, Italy, and Spain in search of safety and better lives in the European Union. The Greek coast guard said it rescued about 1,500 people in the first eight months of the year, compared to fewer than 600 last year.

Greek officials claim that in an effort to get to Italy, people smugglers now frequently take a longer and riskier route south, leaving from Lebanon rather than Turkey.

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