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Migrant Boat Sinks Near Samos: 28 Rescued Amid Dangerous Sea Crossings

A boat carrying migrants sank off the Greek island of Samos, leading to a major rescue operation. The Hellenic Coast Guard saved 28 people, but three others remain missing as strong winds complicate the search. This tragedy is part of a persistent pattern of dangerous sea crossings into the European Union through Greece. Despite an overall decline in arrivals this year, such deadly incidents continue to occur along these perilous routes.

Key Points: 28 Migrants Rescued After Boat Sinks Off Greek Island Samos

  • Search operation ongoing for three missing migrants amid force 5 winds
  • Injured baby airlifted to Athens in serious condition after rescue
  • Incident follows recent fatal smuggling episode near same island
  • Greece remains a key EU entry point with over 1 million arrivals since 2015
3 min read

Migrant boat sinks off Greek island, 28 rescued

Greek coast guard rescues 28 migrants after boat sinks off Samos; three missing. Search continues amid high winds as dangerous Mediterranean crossings persist.

"The migrants were found near the coastline after their boat crashed into rocks. - Hellenic Coast Guard"

Athens, Dec 16

A total of 28 people were rescued, while three others remained missing, after a boat carrying irregular migrants from Turkey sank off the Greek island of Samos on Tuesday, Greek authorities said.

A search-and-rescue operation was underway to locate the missing ones, the Hellenic Coast Guard said, adding that winds of up to force 5 on the Beaufort scale were affecting the area, Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the Coast Guard, the migrants were found near the coastline after their boat crashed into rocks. They were taken to a local hospital for first aid, while an injured baby in serious condition was airlifted to Athens, local media outlet Samos Today reported. The nationalities of the migrants have not yet been confirmed.

Greece has been a key entry point for irregular migrants and refugees into the European Union since 2015. Over the past decade, more than one million arrivals have been recorded, while hundreds of people have lost their lives during dangerous sea crossings.

Data released recently by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) showed that irregular migration flows through the Eastern Mediterranean declined by 30 per cent in the first 11 months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

According to Frontex, about 46,200 arrivals have been recorded in Greek waters this year.

Last week, a 12-year-old boy died after a trafficker forced migrants to jump from a speedboat off the Greek island of Samos, the state broadcaster ERT reported on December 8.

According to the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG), the vessel was carrying 38 migrants when a patrol boat approached. The smuggler then allegedly ordered the passengers to jump into the water before escaping toward the shore. The child suffered fatal injuries after being struck by the boat's propeller.

The boy's body and the 37 survivors were transferred to a local hospital. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the trafficker.

Greece has been a major entry point for irregular migrants and refugees into the European Union since 2015, with more than 1 million arrivals recorded. Hundreds have lost their lives attempting the sea crossing over the years.

The latest fatality followed another incident on December 6, when Greek authorities recovered 17 bodies and rescued two migrants from a vessel off Crete.

Recent data from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, shows that irregular migration flows along the Eastern Mediterranean route fell by 25 per cent in the first ten months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with about 43,000 arrivals registered in Greek waters.

However, Frontex reported sharply increased activity along the Libya-Crete corridor, where detections rose by 272 per cent year-on-year during the same period.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While every life lost is a tragedy, the article mentions a 30% decline in irregular migration. That's a positive sign if it's due to better policy and border management. Europe needs a firm but humane approach. Can't have open borders, it's unsustainable. The traffickers are the real monsters here.
A
Aditya G
Makes you think. We in India also see migration challenges, though different in nature. The scale here is staggering - over a million arrivals since 2015. The trafficker forcing people to jump and that child dying... absolutely horrific. Hope they catch the culprit.
S
Sarah B
The data is interesting. Flows down in the Eastern Med but up 272% on the Libya-Crete route. Shows how migration routes shift. It's a complex, fluid crisis. The Greek coast guard must be under immense pressure. Respect to the rescuers working in force 5 winds.
K
Karthik V
A very sad situation. But I have to ask - where is the international community in addressing the root causes? War, poverty, climate change in home countries. Until that is fixed, people will keep fleeing. Band-aid solutions at the border won't stop this.
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Nikhil C
With respect to the other comments, I feel the focus is often only on the destination countries' burden. What about the responsibility of transit countries like Turkey mentioned here? A more coordinated regional response is needed, not just Greece and the EU bearing the brunt.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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