Migrant boats sink off Greek islands leaving at least 21 dead

At least 21 people have died after two separate boats smuggling migrants off two Greek islands capsized overnight.

The Greek coast guard says dozens have survived and a search and rescue operation is under way for more potential survivors.

The coast guard says a wooden boat carrying 48 people sank in the early hours of Friday off the small island of Farmakonisi in the eastern Aegean. Forty of the passengers managed to make it to shore, while authorities rescued one girl and recovered seven bodies from the sea.

In a separate incident, a wooden sailboat carrying an undetermined number of people sank off the island of Kalolimnos.

The coast guard rescued 26 people and recovered 14 bodies. Coast guard vessels, a helicopter and private boats are searching for survivors.