Twelve migrants have died in two separate incidents while attempting to cross the Aegean Sea towards Greece, including six people who died after their speedboat collided with a coast guard vessel near the island of Lesbos, Greek authorities have said.
The deaths occurred on Monday, October 19, in separate incidents near Lesbos and Samos, two Greek islands close to the Turkish coast that are frequently used as entry points for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
A baby and four women were among the six people who died near Lesbos, according to a Greek coast guard official cited by Agence France-Presse.
The official said the speedboat carrying migrants collided with the side of a police patrol vessel. Eight people survived the incident, with reports indicating that those rescued were taken for medical treatment.
The precise circumstances of the collision remained under investigation.
Six more die near Samos
In a separate incident, six migrants died after a small boat capsized off the island of Samos, the coast guard said.
The victims comprised five men and one woman. Fourteen people from the boat were rescued, including a person suspected of organising the crossing, according to the initial report by AFP.
The two incidents brought the reported death toll to 12 in a single day.
Authorities did not immediately provide a complete account of the circumstances surrounding the Samos capsizing or establish the nationalities of all those involved.
Dangerous route to Europe
The Aegean Sea remains a frequently used route for people travelling from Turkey towards Greece, often in small boats operated by suspected smugglers.
The crossings can expose passengers to overcrowding, unstable vessels and dangerous manoeuvres, particularly when boats attempt to evade interception. The two incidents underline the risks faced by people attempting the journey.
Greek authorities have repeatedly targeted suspected smuggling networks, while search-and-rescue teams continue to respond to emergencies around the country’s islands.
The circumstances surrounding the Lesbos collision are particularly significant because the deaths followed contact between a migrant-carrying speedboat and a coast guard patrol vessel. Authorities will need to establish the sequence of events and the factors that led to the collision.
The deaths near Samos highlight the dangers posed by capsizing in open water, where passengers may have little protection if a vessel overturns.
Broader migration toll
The latest deaths come amid continuing concerns over fatalities and disappearances along Mediterranean migration routes.
The International Organization for Migration has recorded thousands of people dead or missing on Mediterranean routes in recent years. A report published on Monday said at least 1,209 migrants had died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2026.
The figure covers the wider Mediterranean and does not represent the death toll for the Aegean Sea alone.
The route from Turkey to the Greek islands has long been an important corridor for people fleeing conflict, persecution and economic hardship, as well as others seeking better opportunities in Europe.
A previous incident cited in the initial AFP report occurred off Gavdos, near Crete, in September, when one person died and 25 others were reported missing after a migrant boat sank.
The latest incidents add to concerns about the human cost of dangerous sea crossings.
Greek authorities are expected to establish further details about both incidents as investigations and reporting continue.
