About 30 of those rescued were airlifted to the Greek island of Zante, and the rest were towed to port by a cargo ship, police added.

According to survivors' statements, the migrants were Kurds and Afghans, but police declined to confirm this, pending definitive identification.

The boat, roughly 10 meters (32 feet) long, was damaged Friday morning while heading towards Italy, and survivors claimed two died and a third person went missing en route.

Three people died earlier this month and 18 others were reported missing after their vessel capsized due to strong winds in the sea between Greece and Italy.

The small boat was carrying 32 migrants en route to the Greek island of Kefalonia.

Thousands of would-be immigrants from Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent are intercepted in Greece every year trying to reach western Europe through perilous sea crossings. Many die in the process.