Athens - Greek rescuers scoured the eastern Aegean Sea on Thursday for signs of survivors after a vessel carrying dozens of illegal immigrants capsized, the Ministry of Merchant Marine said.

The search-and-rescue operation was reportedly under way northeast of the island of Samos after an immigrant contacted authorities saying the vessel carrying him and another 25 people was in trouble.

Officials at the ministry said they immidiately dispatched a super-Puma helicopter and coastguard vessels to the area.

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to make the perilous journey to Greece via the Aegean from Turkey every year.

Many of the immigrants use Turkey as a transit country and are originally from the Middle East and Africa. dpa