GREEK Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has lashed out at criticism over the suspected drowning of over 500 refugees off the coast last week, saying people should reserve their anger for the “human scum” who trafficked the victims.

A naval and coastguard search operation was continuing 47 nautical miles south-west of Pylos, where the vessel sank on Wednesday with 104 passengers rescued and 78 dead bodies recovered. The boat is estimated to have carried 750 people and no more bodies or survivors have been found since.

Protests were held across Greece on Thursday and Friday nights at the drownings, which have been blamed on the EU’s “fortress Europe” policy to prevent refugees reaching EU territory and the Greek coastguard’s hostility to boat arrivals.