Three people lost their lives and five others were rescued on Monday when an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of the Greek island of Samos in the Aegean Sea, according to Greek police.
Migrant boat accidents are common in this region, as Greece is one of the main entry points into the European Union for those fleeing poverty or conflict in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The boat sank early Monday off the northwest coast of Samos, one of the Greek islands closest to Turkey, from where many migrants begin their dangerous journey across the sea.
“Three bodies were pulled from the water, and five people were rescued and are now safe,” a port police official told AFP.
Authorities have launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, as local media reports suggest that up to 20 more people may still be missing.
