Twelve migrants drown as boats capsize off Greek islands of Samos and Lesbos
Six migrants drowned off Samos after their speedboat capsized while being pursued by the Greek coast guard — the second deadly incident in a day that brought the toll to 12; an Iranian national was arrested on suspicion of smuggling.
Six migrants — five men and one woman — drowned after a speedboat carrying migrants from Turkey made a sudden manoeuvre and capsized off the Greek island of Samos on Monday, the second deadly incident in the northeastern Aegean Sea in a single day, bringing the day’s toll to 12.
The Greek coast guard said the boat overturned roughly four nautical miles north of Samos as its vessel pursued it. Fourteen men survived and were rescued, while an Iranian national among them was arrested on suspicion of migrant smuggling. A search-and-rescue operation was under way.
Earlier on Monday, a speedboat collided with a Greek coast guard vessel and overturned off Agrilia, Lesbos, about 3.5 nautical miles south, killing four men, one woman and an infant; eight people survived and were taken to hospital. Authorities arrested a 37-year-old Turkish national identified as the boat’s suspected smuggler and operator.
Shipping minister Vassilis Kikilias said evidence indicated the speedboat had struck the left side of the coast guard vessel with its bow, and vowed that “Our position is non-negotiable: zero tolerance for smugglers”, adding that the exact circumstances were under investigation.
Greece has long been a favoured gateway to Europe for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia; in 2015-16, nearly one million people landed on its islands, mainly from Turkey.
Read next: More on migrant crossings off Greece
Sources: Reuters via Arab News, Reuters, Reuters via jack1065
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