At least 11 people have died and 13 are missing after a boat carrying about 50 refugees sank in the eastern Aegean Sea, Greek authorities said.

Twenty-six people were rescued alive after the accident, which occurred when a wooden boat carrying the refugees from Turkey sank near the islet of Farmakonissi, the coast guard said.

Five children, four men and two women died in the incident. Their nationalities were not immediately known.

Greece is the main entry point for refugees and economic migrants seeking a better life in the European Union.

2 GREECE Migrants

Police in northern Greece have closed a border crossing with Macedonia and are stopping people from getting within five kilometres (three miles) of it following a standoff with hundreds of people who have been denied entry.

Authorities closed the area and briefly detained journalists and photographers at the perimeter. More than 200 riot police have been deployed to the border area at Idomeni following the standoff that has halted freight rail services from Greece to other European countries.

The migrants have been stranded at the border for three weeks after authorities in Macedonia restricted access to citizens from countries normally granted political asylum, such as Syria and Iraq.

Police said the migrants will be moved to Athens in buses.