ATHENS: At least two persons were confirmed dead and up to 16 others are missing when a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos. The incident occurred in the Aegean Sea, where an inflatable dinghy from the Turkish coast ran aground on the rocky shores of Agios Georgios, east of Lesbos, pushed by strong winds around 3:00 am local time.
According to those rescued, the dinghy was carrying 36 people. Authorities found 18 migrants who had managed to get off the dinghy and discovered two bodies in the sea near the coast. However, the fate of the remaining 16 people remains unknown, as they dispersed after the boat ran aground.
Migrants Influx into European Union
Coast guard patrol boats were unable to conduct searches at sea on Wednesday due to a sailing ban imposed because of adverse weather conditions. Lesbos serves as one of the gateways for migrants attempting to enter the European Union, with many undertaking perilous sea journeys.
Greece has intensified patrols in the Aegean Sea, assisted by the European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex. This tragic incident follows a similar occurrence in June when a dilapidated boat sank off Pylos in the Peloponnese, claiming the lives of 82 people, with hundreds reported missing. Survivors from that incident have since filed a group lawsuit against Greek authorities, alleging a failure to take appropriate action before the boat sank.
