Twelve Migrants Die in Aegean Sea Boat Tragedies

Twelve migrants lost their lives on Monday in the Aegean Sea during two separate boat accidents. Six people died after their vessel crashed into a police patrol ship near the island of Lesbos. That group included a baby and four women, while eight others were saved. Another six people drowned when a small boat flipped over near the island of Samos. That second group consisted of five men and one woman. Fourteen survivors were pulled from the water in that incident, and one of them is suspected to be an Iranian organiser.

Context

The Aegean Sea is a frequent path for people traveling from Turkey to try and reach Europe. Dangerous boat crossings across these waters have resulted in many deaths over the years. Previous accidents in the region include a sinking near the island of Gavdos in September where twenty-five people went missing.