Egean Tragedy: Eight Migrants Die in Boat Sinking near Rhodes
Inmigrants in the Mediterranean Sea, Photo: EFE
December 20, 2024 Hour: 4:12 pm
Eight people drowned on Friday following the sinking of a boat carrying at least 26 migrants off the island of Rhodes, Greece.
Related:
15 Migrants Drowned in the Mediterranean Despite Calls for Help
The vessel, according to reports in the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, was traveling at over 56 kilometers per hour attempting to evade a coast guard patrol. During the evasion maneuvers, the driver lost control, colliding with the patrol boat and causing the migrants to fall into the water.
Eighteen people were rescued, eight of them with serious injuries. Greek authorities have launched a search and rescue operation to find any possible survivors.
Two Turkish citizens have been arrested, accused of human trafficking.
This incident adds to a series of recent tragedies in Greek waters. Last weekend, at least five migrants died and dozens remain missing after a boat capsized south of Crete. In total, over 200 people were rescued in four separate rescue operations during the same period.
The most common migrant routes to Greece are from the western coast of Turkey to the islands of Samos, Leros, Lesbos, Kos, and Chios, and from the coast of Libya to Crete. According to UNHCR, more than 59,000 migrants arrived in Greece by December 15, 2023, an increase compared to the 49,000 registered in 2022.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE
