Two Syrian sailors die after ships collide off Greece

Two Syrian sailors died and eight were reported missing after their cargo ship collided with another vessel and sank Monday off the Greek coast, Greece's merchant marine ministry said. Five boats sailing nearby, two patrol boats, a Coast Guard plane and helicopter were searching the area southwest of the Peloponnese, the ministry added.

The Piri Reis, carrying a crew of 17 Syrians and flying the Cook Islands flag, sank before 06:00 am (03:00 GMT) after colliding with another cargo ship, the Consouth, as it was transporting fertiliser from Algeria to Ukraine, it said.

The Consouth, flying the Antigua-Barbuda flag, plucked seven crew members from the sea after they managed to escape the wreck.
It was sailing empty towards Malta with a crew of 16 sailors, the ministry said.