One person has died, and three individuals are missing following the sinking of a migrant boat near the Greek island of Samos. The coast guard reported that 26 migrants managed to reach the Petalides area and alerted authorities about others still at sea. A search and rescue operation involving coast guard vessels, a helicopter, a private boat, and ground teams has been initiated. During the search, the body of a woman was recovered, while efforts continue to locate the missing individuals.
Greece has been a significant entry point for migrants and refugees into the European Union since 2015, with over a million arrivals. Tragically, many have lost their lives while attempting the perilous sea journey. This incident follows a series of migrant tragedies in Greek waters, including a recent event where 28 people were rescued, and three others went missing after a boat carrying irregular migrants from Turkey sank near Samos on December 16.
The Hellenic Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue mission to find the missing individuals. Adverse weather conditions, with winds reaching up to force five on the Beaufort scale, are affecting the search area. Migrants were discovered near the coast after their boat collided with rocks. Injured individuals have been transported to a local hospital for medical care, with a seriously injured baby airlifted to Athens for treatment, as reported by local media outlet Samos Today.
In previous incidents, a 12-year-old boy tragically lost his life after being struck by a boat propeller when a smuggler allegedly compelled migrants to jump from a speedboat off Samos on December 8. Additionally, on December 6, Greek authorities recovered 17 bodies and rescued two migrants from a vessel off Crete.
