Seven Migrants Dead, 23 Rescued as Greek Crackdown Forces Risky Crossing

A tragic migrant boat disaster off the Greek island of Lesbos has left seven people dead, including two children, while 23 others were rescued, the Greek coast guard reported on Thursday. The incident occurred when an inflatable boat carrying about 30 migrants capsized in the Aegean Sea, just a short distance from Turkey’s coast.

Initially, authorities recovered four bodies, but further searches uncovered three more, including four women, a boy, and a girl.

The UN has repeatedly warned about the dangers of these crossings, with nearly 2,500 migrant deaths recorded last year. Despite these alarming numbers, Greece’s conservative government has taken an increasingly hardline stance on migration. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently reaffirmed his administration’s tough policies, warning that migrants who enter the country illegally would be sent back and that smugglers—and any NGOs assisting them—would not dictate Greece’s immigration policies.

Critics argue that Greece’s restrictive immigration measures are forcing desperate migrants into life-threatening journeys. However, the government maintains that strict enforcement is necessary to prevent illegal entries and dismantle smuggling networks.

This latest tragedy highlights the deadly consequences of Europe’s ongoing migration crisis, as thousands continue to risk their lives in search of safety and a better future—only to be met with increasingly hostile policies and treacherous waters.