On April 3, a boat with migrants sank in the waters of the Aegean Sea near the island of Lesvos. As a result of the tragedy, at least seven people died, including two children. This was announced by the Greek Coast Guard, informs DW.
The ship was heading from the territory of Turkey to a Greek island, where it was discovered by a coast guard patrol ship in the morning hours. So far, at least 23 people have been rescued and taken to the hospital.
The causes of the accident have not yet been established. There is also no exact information about the number of people who were on board and their nationality. The search-and-rescue operation continues, involving three Coast Guard vessels, an Air Force helicopter and a boat that was near the scene of the tragedy.
The Greek islands are often the first stop on the way for migrants to the European Union. People try to get there from different parts of the world, fleeing armed conflicts and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In 2023, about 54,000 migrants arrived in Greece, most of them by sea. According to Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), at least 171 people died or went missing on the Aegean Sea route in 2024.
