Eight migrants tragically drowned while attempting to escape Greek coastguard intervention in the Aegean Sea, highlighting the perilous conditions migrants face in their journey to Europe.
Tragic Aegean Sea Incident Claims Lives of Eight Migrants
Tragic Aegean Sea Incident Claims Lives of Eight Migrants
A dangerous bid to evade Greek coastguard patrol led to the tragic drowning of eight migrants in the Aegean Sea.
The incident unfolded when a speedboat, packed with migrants, capsized while trying to flee a coastguard patrol near Rhodes. Reports suggest that the boat's driver lost control during the high-speed chase, leading to a collision with a Greek coastguard vessel. So far, 18 survivors have been rescued, many suffering from injuries.
The capsizing occurred along a notorious smuggling route between Turkey and Greece, emphasizing the dangers that thousands of migrants face annually in the Mediterranean. Current efforts to locate additional survivors include the deployment of coastguard ships and helicopters.
This tragedy echoes similar past incidents, with significant loss of life recently reported in the region. In a separate event last month off Samos, eight people, including six children, drowned when another migrant boat sank.
Despite a decline in migrant arrivals since August, more than 50,000 migrants have landed in Greece via boat this year, making it the second most frequented entry point into Europe after Italy. The United Nations refugee agency reports that around 180,000 migrants made the treacherous sea journey to Europe in 2023, with 2,000 individuals either dead or missing. This alarming trend includes a significant proportion of children, accounting for roughly 23% of arrivals.
The capsizing occurred along a notorious smuggling route between Turkey and Greece, emphasizing the dangers that thousands of migrants face annually in the Mediterranean. Current efforts to locate additional survivors include the deployment of coastguard ships and helicopters.
This tragedy echoes similar past incidents, with significant loss of life recently reported in the region. In a separate event last month off Samos, eight people, including six children, drowned when another migrant boat sank.
Despite a decline in migrant arrivals since August, more than 50,000 migrants have landed in Greece via boat this year, making it the second most frequented entry point into Europe after Italy. The United Nations refugee agency reports that around 180,000 migrants made the treacherous sea journey to Europe in 2023, with 2,000 individuals either dead or missing. This alarming trend includes a significant proportion of children, accounting for roughly 23% of arrivals.
