At least 11 people, including several children, have drowned after a wooden boat overturned in rough waters near the island of Lesbos between Turkey and Greece.

Several smaller boats were swamped in the bad weather.

The Greek coastguard says it rescued 242 refugees.

The International Organisation for Migration says there could have been 300 people on board.

Volunteers have described it as a day of death.

Reports say fishing boats assisted coastguard vessels in bringing survivors ashore to the port village Molyvos.

It is believed many had suffered from shock or hypothermia.

There are also fears more could drown as the winter approaches and the Aegean sea becomes rougher.