Photo by the media
The incident took place on Saturday, December 6, when a partially submerged boat with foreign passengers was found. As a result of the crash, 18 migrants died, according to an official statement.
Two survivors were rescued by the coast guard.
The boat was discovered by a cargo ship flying the Turkish flag southwest of the small island of Chrissi. In this area, Greece, in cooperation with the EU border agency Frontex, is conducting a large-scale search and rescue operation involving maritime vessels, an aircraft, and a helicopter.
Greece serves as a transit point for migrants from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. In 2015, about 75% of migrants who illegally entered Europe crossed its borders. However, in recent years, in response to the increased flows, the country has significantly strengthened its border security, leading to a noticeable reduction in the number of migrants.
The causes of the boat crash remain unknown, and the coast guard has begun an investigation into the incident.
