The Greek government announced that twelve migrants lost their lives in two separate incidents in the Aegean Sea near the islands of Lesbos and Samos. These events occurred while boats carrying migrants were being pursued by the coast guard.
Details of the Tragic Incidents
The Greek coast guard reported that in one of these incidents, six men and one woman lost their lives when a speedboat capsized while traveling from Turkey to Greece. This boat capsized about four nautical miles north of Samos. In this incident, fourteen men were rescued, and search and rescue operations are ongoing to find other passengers. Meanwhile, one of the survivors, who is an Iranian national, has been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.
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In another incident, four men, one woman, and one baby lost their lives after their boat collided with a coast guard vessel near the Agrielia area in Lesbos. In this incident, eight passengers from the boat were transferred to the hospital. Greek authorities also identified and arrested a 37-year-old Turkish national among the survivors as a suspect in human trafficking.
Greek Government's Stance Against Traffickers
The Greek government has firmly stated that it will adopt a policy of "zero tolerance" towards human traffickers, identifying them as the perpetrators of these deadly incidents. Greece's Minister of Maritime Transport, Vassilis Kikilias, stated in a press release that existing evidence indicates the speedboat collided with the left side of the coast guard vessel, and investigations into the exact circumstances of this incident are ongoing. He also emphasized the importance of a firm stance against traffickers, saying: "Our position is non-negotiable: zero tolerance towards traffickers."
Greece, as one of the main destinations for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, faced a migration crisis in 2015 and 2016, during which nearly one million people entered the islands of this country. Since then, Greece has adopted stricter policies in this regard and has faced criticism from human rights organizations for the forced returns of migrants and asylum seekers at its maritime and land borders. The government claims that the coast guard operates with full respect for human life and rights.
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