Twelve Migrants Die in Aegean Sea Boat Disasters

UPDATE - follow-up to Greek coast guard says 12 migrants die in Aegean sea crossings: Twelve migrants died on October 19, 2026, in two separate boat accidents while trying to cross the Aegean Sea.

Boat Collision off Lesbos

Six people died after a speed boat carrying migrants collided with the port side of a police patrol vessel off the island of Lesbos on Monday. A baby and four women were among the six victims in this crash. Authorities rescued eight other people from the boat.

Samos Capsizing

Another six people died when a small boat capsized off the island of Samos on the same day. These victims included five men and one woman. The coast guard rescued 14 other people from this boat, and one of them is a presumed Iranian organiser.

Context

The Aegean Sea is a major route used by migrants travelling from Turkey who hope to reach Europe, and such dangerous crossings have led to many deaths over the years. A similar accident happened in September when a boat sank off the island of Gavdos near Crete, leaving one person dead and 25 missing.