GREECE – Seven people have been confirmed dead after a migrant boat capsized near a Greek island, while rescue teams have managed to save 23 survivors. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.
Greece continues to be a primary entry point for migrants and refugees, with over 54,000 arrivals recorded in 2024 alone. This surge follows the country’s experience in 2015, when nearly 1 million people, mainly from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, reached its shores.
Meanwhile, another tragic incident occurred off the coast of the Canary Islands, where up to 50 migrants, including 44 Pakistanis, are feared dead after their boat sank while en route from West Africa to Spain. The boat, which left Mauritania on January 2 with 86 people aboard, went missing for several days before authorities were alerted. Moroccan officials managed to rescue 36 survivors on Wednesday.
Migrant rights group Walking Borders reported that the sinking is part of a larger pattern of perilous crossings, highlighting the alarming number of migrant deaths, with 10,457 fatalities recorded in 2024 alone along the route to Spain. The tragic events underscore the increasing risks migrants face as they seek a better life in Europe.
PRESS UPDATE