Greek and Turkish coastguards pressed on with search operations Friday for two individuals still missing after two refugee boats sank in separate incidents off their coasts on Thursday, claiming at least 16 lives. The twin tragedies, occurring in the narrow stretch between Turkiye and the Greek island of Lesbos, have once again spotlighted the lethal risks of irregular migration across the Aegean Sea.
The first vessel, carrying around 35 refugees, sent out a distress signal early Thursday near Turkiye’s Canakkale province. Turkish rescuers, mobilizing three boats and a helicopter, pulled 25 survivors from the water and recovered nine bodies. One passenger remains missing, with efforts hampered by the region’s unpredictable currents. Those rescued were taken to a hospital in Turkiye, where they are receiving medical care.
Hours later, a second boat met disaster off Lesbos. The Greek coastguard found the five-meter dinghy taking on water and managed to save 23 of its 31 passengers—11 minors, eight men, and four women. A subsequent search yielded seven bodies, including three women, two boys, one girl, and one man. Survivors reported a young girl missing, prompting an ongoing search supported by helicopters and Frontex vessels.
Authorities from both nations emphasized that the incidents were unconnected, though they reflect a broader pattern of hazardous crossings. The route, a gateway to the EU, remains heavily trafficked despite its dangers, with shipwrecks claiming numerous lives annually. In 2024, over 54,000 migrants reached Greece, many via this corridor, according to UN data.
One survivor from the Lesbos sinking, a 20-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling after being identified by others as the boat’s operator. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on finding the missing—a lone individual from the Turkish incident and the young girl from the Greek one—amid fading hopes as time passes.
