The Greek coastguard has confirmed the recovery of eight bodies, including six children, after a migrant boat sank near the island of Samos. Approximately 40 individuals were rescued during the Aegean Sea operation, which involved multiple aircraft and vessels. The situation has been made more challenging by strong winds affecting the rescue efforts.
The tragic incident was reported to authorities by a non-governmental organization, which indicated that around 50 people were believed to be aboard the vessel at the time of the sinking. Samos, located close to the Turkish coast, is a common destination for migrants seeking to reach Europe. So far this year, Greece has received over 50,000 migrants by boat, making it the second most trafficked route in Europe after Italy.
Despite a decline in migrant arrivals since August 2023, numbers have risen again in recent weeks, according to data from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR. The agency reports that approximately 160,000 migrants have made the perilous journey to Europe by sea this year, with around 2,000 individuals dead or missing in the process. Alarmingly, children represent about 23 percent of the total arrivals.
