Greek Coast Guard Discovers Two Bodies, 39 Migrants on Island

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Greek Coast Guard Discovers Bodies of Migrants on Farmakonisi Island

On Monday, the Greek Coast Guard reported the recovery of the bodies of two women and 39 other migrants on the small island of Farmakonisi in the Aegean Sea. The authorities have launched an investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding their deaths, which remain unclear.

Officials stated that they received word earlier in the day that the migrants had arrived on the island, located just six miles (approximately 9.7 kilometers) from the Turkish coast. The Coast Guard is continuing to search for additional survivors from what could be a shipwreck.

The rescued individuals have been moved to the nearby island of Leros.

Situated in the southeastern part of the European Union, Greece has historically served as a significant entry point for migrants and refugees fleeing conflict and hardship in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Since 2015, the Coast Guard has rescued over 250,000 people amid a migration crisis that saw nearly one million individuals reach Greek islands, including Farmakonisi, from Turkey. Unfortunately, thousands have lost their lives at sea, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Earlier this month, at least seven migrants, including a boy, a girl, and two women, drowned when their boat capsized near the island of Lesbos.