Athens: At least eight migrants have died in a shipwreck north of the Greek island of Samos, local media reported on Monday.
The victims were two women and six children, the daily newspaper Kathimerini reported, citing the coastguard.
A total of around 50 people are said to have been on board. So far, 36 people were able to save themselves on the shore of the island and the coastguard was searching for more passengers by boat.
Strong winds prevailed in the region at the time of the accident. Accidents involving migrant boats, which are often unseaworthy barges or heavily overcrowded rubber dinghies, occur repeatedly in these waters.
Compared with last year, the number of migrants trying to reach Greece has significantly increased this year.
While there were under 49,000 arrivals in 2023, around 54,000 migrants had already arrived in Greece by November 17, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (DPA)
