Six migrants, including an infant, died after a speedboat carrying people from Turkey collided with a Greek coast guard vessel off the island of Lesvos on Monday. Authorities arrested a Turkish national suspected of smuggling and operating the boat.
The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe and the Greek government's stance on combating migrant smuggling operations.
Six migrants, including an infant, died after a speedboat carrying people from Turkey collided with a Greek coast guard vessel and overturned off the island of Lesvos early on Monday, Greek authorities said. The accident occurred about 3.5 nautical miles south of Agrilia. Rescuers recovered the bodies of four men, one woman, and an infant, while eight survivors were taken to hospital. Authorities arrested a 37-year-old Turkish national among the survivors, identifying him as the suspected smuggler and operator of the boat. Greece's shipping minister Vassilis Kikilias blamed migrant traffickers for the deaths, stating that evidence indicated the speedboat struck the left side of the coast guard vessel. Greece has long been a favored gateway to Europe for migrants, with nearly 1 million landing on its islands mainly from Turkey during the 2015-16 migration crisis.
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