European migrant crisis: At least 28 drown off Greece; Hungary see record refugee influx

A Syrian refugee holding a baby in a lifetube swims towards the shore after their dinghy deflated some 100m away before reaching the Greek island of Lesbos, September 13, 2015. (Source: Reuters)

Officials said 68 others were rescued while 30 more swam to the barely populated island. Coast guard officials said the boat may have been toppled in part because of wind gusts exceeding 50 kph (30 mph).

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Sunday’s tragedy came just a day after two other boats capsized and at least five people — four children and a 20-year-old man — were presumed drowned. The coast guard said they still were searching for those bodies.

IN PICS: Europe tries to plug refugee influx, migrants to survive

In Hungary, army engineers crowned the top of the planned 174-kilometer (109-mile) border fence with razor wire as the government warned that, from Tuesday onward, any asylum seekers caught breaking through the barrier would be arrested and charged with a criminal offense. Police said 4,330 were detected crossing in the previous 24 hours, more than 700 higher than the previous one-day record, as trekkers strove to reach Hungary before the tougher security measures take effect.

A Syrian woman embraces her child after they arrived with others migrants on a dinghy from Turkey to Lesbos island, Greece. (Source: AP)

This year, more than 175,000 have passed through Hungary from Serbia en route to Western Europe, and the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban says it’s determined to make Hungary a more difficult challenge, with deployments of troops and potential prison terms part of the deterrent.

Hungary’s lawmakers have not voted yet on whether to back government plans to deploy more than 3,000 troops in support of border police, but dozens of soldiers already were patrolling the fence Sunday. Some drove along the dirt track beside the fence in jeeps while others patrolled on foot with attack dogs. While many migrants viewed the military presence with suspicion, they were able to walk through a gap in the fence without being challenged. All soldiers appeared to be armed with assault rifles.