Greek authorities announced the discovery of four bodies off the coast of Rhodes, Greece, early Wednesday after a migrant smuggler allegedly forced the passengers overboard.
What Happened?
The victims, three men and one woman, were reportedly forced overboard by a suspected smuggler who then abandoned the vessel in the eastern Aegean Sea.
However, a group of 25 people have been found alive on land, with local police initially locating 11 people around midnight and the remaining individuals soon afterward.
According to survivor accounts, the migrants were en route to Greece from Turkey by speedboat when the smuggler allegedly demanded they leave the boat into the water.
In response, the Greek coast guard launched a search and rescue operation but called it off by Wednesday afternoon once officials were confident no additional people were missing.
The nationalities of the migrants still remain unclear.
How Many Migrants Are Entering Greece?
This latest tragedy comes as Greece grapples with an increased influx of migrants, many of whom are driven by conflicts and economic hardship.
Greece lies on a popular route into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, with tens of thousands heading to Greek islands, usually in smuggling boats from the nearby Turkish coast, or making the longer and more treacherous journey across the Mediterranean from North Africa.
As of early November, over 50,000 migrants have been recorded entering Greece this year, more than 43,000 of whom made the crossing by sea, according to data from the U.N. refugee agency.
In response, Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos has recently called for stricter EU policies on migration and proposed creating detention facilities on islands such as Rhodes and Crete to better manage the rising arrivals.
Similar Migrant Incidents
Meanwhile, this incident is just the latest danger to migrants at sea.
In September, a boat carrying migrants from Libya capsized in the Mediterranean Sea after being caught in severe weather on September 1, causing 21 passengers, including three children, to be thrown into the sea. The Italian coast guard said local officials had spotted the sinking boat around 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of the island.
Rescue efforts managed to save seven Syrians who were transported to the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The Central Mediterranean route has become notorious as one of the deadliest crossings for migrants. Last year alone, the U.N. recorded over 2,500 deaths or disappearances in this stretch of water. So far in 2023, at least 1,047 people have lost their lives attempting the journey, highlighting the grave dangers migrants face as they attempt to cross into other countries.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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