Greek authorities discovered 39 survivors and the bodies of two women on the remote island of Farmakonisi following a suspected migrant boat sinking, officials reported on Monday.
The Greek coastguard confirmed the migrants were found in the morning hours, but the boat that had carried them from Turkey was missing. Authorities noted that there were no reports of additional missing persons and no immediate details regarding the migrants’ nationalities or the circumstances that led to the vessel’s disappearance.
This incident follows a string of similar tragedies. Earlier in the month, at least 16 migrants lost their lives when two separate dinghies capsized—one in Turkish waters and one in Greek waters—as people attempted the perilous journey from Turkey’s coast to nearby Greek islands.
Greece remains a key gateway into the European Union for those fleeing violence and hardship in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Migrants often attempt the crossing in inflatable dinghies or small, overcrowded boats, many of which are unfit for the sea or launched in dangerous weather conditions—factors that contribute to frequent fatal accidents.
In response, Greek authorities have tightened patrols across sea routes. Smuggling operations have increasingly shifted toward southern routes, utilizing larger vessels to transport people from North Africa to southern parts of Greece.
According to the UN refugee agency, over 54,000 people traveled the eastern Mediterranean route to Greece in 2024, with another 7,700 crossing by land from Turkey. The same year, 125 people were reported dead or missing.
So far in 2025, more than 8,000 migrants have reached Greece by sea, and another 755 have entered via land routes, according to data collected through March 30.
