The Greek coast guard has rescued 27 migrants and recovered the bodies of four after their boat sank near the island of Kos in the Aegean Sea, a spokesman said.

The incident occurred when the person driving the small boat was performing a “manoeuvre”, he said, adding that 10 passengers fell into the water, resulting in the deaths of two women and two children.

Three of his ships and a merchant vessel were searching for more people in the area, he said.