On Saturday, March 22, the Greek coast guard rescued a group of migrants who had been thrown into the sea by a smuggler near the small island of Farmakonisi in an attempt to evade capture.
According to authorities, a suspicious speedboat carrying foreign passengers approached the southeastern coast of the island. The smuggler ignored the coast guard’s orders to stop and began maneuvering dangerously. As the boat neared the shore, the smuggler deliberately threw three migrants into the water, while the rest were forced to jump under threats. He then fled toward the Turkish coast.
Greek rescuers immediately launched a search and rescue operation involving three patrol boats, a rescue boat, and a helicopter. They found 16 people on land and three in the water. Two minors, who were found unconscious at sea, regained consciousness after receiving medical assistance. However, one man was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The children and their mother were initially taken to the island of Leros before being airlifted to a children’s hospital in Athens. The remaining migrants, believed to be of Afghan origin, were transported to a temporary reception center on Leros.
Greek authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), since the beginning of 2024, 175 migrants have died in the eastern Mediterranean, 164 of whom drowned. In March alone, 18 people lost their lives.
