Twelve migrants die in two speedboat capsizings off Greece

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

Twelve migrants died when two speedboats capsized off the Greek islands of Lesbos and Samos.

Twelve migrants died in two separate speedboat capsizings off the Greek islands of Lesbos and Samos over the weekend, Greece's coast guard said. Six people, including an infant, died when a speedboat carrying Syrian and Palestinian migrants struck the port side of a Greek coast guard vessel and capsized south of Lesbos late on Sunday. Another speedboat capsized north of the island of Samos at around dawn on Monday, resulting in the death of five men and one woman.

In the Lesbos incident, four men, one woman and an infant were among the dead. Eight people were rescued, including an individual detained as a suspected people smuggler. In the Samos incident, about 15 people were rescued so far, including an Iranian man suspected of being a people smuggler. A coast guard vessel and helicopter were continuing to search for three missing passengers.

Greece's Maritime Affairs Minister Vasilis Kikilias called the Lesbos deaths the 'criminal act of modern-day slave traders' and stated the government's position was 'zero tolerance for people smugglers'. Greece is a main entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, many attempting the short but treacherous journey from Turkey to nearby Greek islands.

How it is being reported

• Capsizings cause the deaths of 12 migrants off Greek islandsGreece's coast guard says that 12 people have died in two separate capsizings involving speedboats ferrying migrants off the islands of Lesbos and Samos close to the Turkish coast.Clickorlando · 19 Oct, 14:46
• Capsizings cause the deaths of 12 migrants off Greek islandsGreece's coast guard says that 12 people have died in two separate capsizings involving speedboats ferrying migrants off the islands of Lesbos and Samos close to the Turkish coast.News4Jax · 19 Oct, 14:46

In this story: Greece · Lesbos · Samos · Vasilis Kikilias · European Union · Frontex

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem