At least 18 migrants died among about 40 people aboard a vessel that sank off the Greek island of Lesbos in the central Aegean Sea on Thursday, the country's coastguard said, adding that 25 other people have been rescued thus far.

The search for survivors was continuing under adverse weather conditions, the coast guard said.

Greek authorities had on Wednesday rescued 80 migrants, whose boat sank in stormy waters near the island of Kythira in southern Greece.

(With input from Reuters)

(Cover: Authorities and local residents save a migrant during a large-scale rescue operation on the island of Kythira, Greece, October 6, 2022. /CFP)