Tragic Shipwreck Off Greece: Dozens Dead, Including Infant
Authorities launched a frantic search-and-rescue operation northwest of Paros overnight on Friday. Greece’s semi-official Athens News Agency confirmed the recovery of 16 bodies—12 men, three women, and an infant—from the disaster site.
Boat Headed for Italy from Turkey
The ill-fated vessel was carrying around 80 people, believed to be refugees and migrants trying to reach Italy from Turkey, according to the Greek coastguard. Air and sea rescue teams raced to the area early Saturday in a desperate bid to save more lives.
Deadly Pattern Continues in the Aegean
This tragedy follows other recent deadly incidents:
- On Thursday, a sailboat sank near a southern Greek islet, with 11 bodies recovered and 90 survivors rescued.
- Between Tuesday and Wednesday, a boat carrying up to 50 people capsized off Folegandros island, with dozens missing. The UN refugee agency called this the worst shipwreck in the Aegean Sea this year.
“This shipwreck is a painful reminder that people continue to embark on perilous voyages in search of safety,” said Adriano Silvestri, UNHCR’s assistant representative in Greece, speaking to AFP.
Unrelenting Refugee Crisis
Greece remains a key entry point into the European Union for migrants fleeing conflict in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Though the influx has slowed since the peak years of 2015-2016, the dangers persist.
The UNHCR estimates over 2,500 people have died or gone missing at sea trying to reach Europe this year alone. In 2015, nearly one million mainly Syrian refugees crossed into the EU via Greek islands near Turkey.
