In brief
Eight people, notably six children, tragically lost their lives in a migrant boat sinking near the island of Samos, Greece, with coastguard reports confirming their recovery.
Rescue operations, hindered by severe weather, managed to save around 40 individuals from the Aegean waters after a non-governmental organization raised the alarm about the capsized vessel, thought to have been carrying roughly 50 passengers. Greece’s migration minister lamented the incident with sorrow and vowed to take action against human trafficking networks. Samos, positioned close to Turkey, has been a key destination for migrants seeking refuge in Europe, with over 50,000 arrivals documented this year alone. The volume of crossings has risen following a decline since August, with the UNHCR reporting that around 160,000 migrants have reached Europe via sea in 2023, leading to a heartbreaking tally of 2,000 people dead or missing during their journey.
