Seven people, including two children, have died and 23 others were rescued when an inflatable boat carrying migrants capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos on Thursday, according to the Greek coast guard.
Initially, the coast guard reported finding four bodies in the Aegean Sea, but after a search by patrol boats, three more bodies were discovered. The boat, which was carrying around 30 people, capsized in calm weather just a short distance from the coast of Turkey.
The coast guard spokeswoman explained that the boat took on water and began sinking. Efforts to locate any additional survivors are ongoing. Among the deceased were four women, a boy, and a girl, but the identities and nationalities of the other victims have not been released.
Greece, situated in the southeastern part of Europe in the eastern Mediterranean, has long been a key entry point for undocumented migrants from Asia and the Middle East attempting to reach Western Europe. Tragic incidents like this are all too common on these dangerous sea crossings. According to the UN, nearly 2,500 people died during these crossings last year.
Last month, Greek maritime police reported that a migrant died, and 18 others were rescued after a smuggler abandoned them while they tried to cross from Turkey. The UN Refugee Agency revealed that nearly 9,000 migrants have entered Greece by sea this year, and over 54,000 entered in 2024.
In response to the rising numbers, Greece’s conservative government has taken a tougher stance on migration.
