Greek shipwreck: Tearful reunions as charges heard

STORY: Eighteen-year-old Syrian Mohammed survived last week’s devastating Greek shipwreck.

This is the moment he was reunited with his elder brother, who traveled to Greece from the Netherlands to search for him.

But for other relatives of those aboard the boat, the wait is agonizing.

This man, standing with his nephew who survived the wreck, is looking for his brother.

At least 78 deaths have been confirmed.

But eyewitness accounts suggest up to 750 people were packed on board the 65- to 100-foot-long fishing boat.

Immediately after the disaster 104 survivors were brought ashore by the Greek authorities.

Many of those survivors, like Mohammed, have now been moved to a migrant camp just outside of Athens.

Since Wednesday (June 14) a massive search and rescue operation has been ongoing.

But hopes of finding survivors are dwindling.

The boat, carrying people from Egypt, Syria and Pakistan, sank 50 miles from the southern coastal town of Pylos, in the deepest waters of the Mediterranean.

Greek authorities say migrants paid $4,500 each to board the fishing boat.

It is thought the vessel was bound for Italy, having departed from Egypt before picking up more passengers in Libya.

The exact circumstances of the boat's sinking are still unclear.

Greek authorities deny accounts that the boat flipped after the coastguard attempted to tow it.

They also maintain that the boat refused offers of help.

On Monday, nine Egyptian nationals were taken to a courthouse in Kalamata to hear charges against them.

The nine, aged between 20 and 40 years, were arrested late on Thursday (June 15).

Authorities said they faced charges of negligent manslaughter, exposing lives to danger, causing a shipwreck and human trafficking.

Police in Pakistan say a further 14 suspects have also been arrested there in connection with the disaster.