By Habeeb Ibrahim
Twelve migrants have died in two separate boat incidents off Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, including a baby, as dangerous crossings from Turkey to Europe continue to claim lives.
The deaths occurred on Monday off the islands of Lesbos and Samos. Six people died when a migrant speedboat collided with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel, while another six died after a separate boat capsized.
Off Lesbos, a speedboat carrying migrants collided with the port side of a coast guard patrol vessel. Six people, including a baby and four women, died in the incident, while eight others were rescued.
Greek authorities arrested a 37-year-old Turkish national suspected of operating the speedboat and involvement in migrant smuggling. The circumstances surrounding the collision were subject to investigation.
In a separate incident off Samos, six migrants, comprising five men and a woman, died after their boat capsized. Fourteen people were rescued, including a suspected Iranian smuggler, according to the coast guard.
The latest deaths come months after another fatal collision near the Greek island of Chios. On February 3, 2026, 15 migrants died after their boat collided with a Greek coast guard vessel. At least 25 people were rescued.
The February incident prompted scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding encounters between migrant boats and Greek maritime authorities. However, the Chios collision and Monday’s incident off Lesbos are separate events, and their circumstances should not be conflated.
Although the February collision occurred near Chios rather than Lesbos, both islands lie along the eastern Aegean migration route used by people travelling from Turkey towards Greece.
The Aegean Sea remains a major route for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with many relying on small boats to travel from Turkey to Greek islands. The crossings can be dangerous, particularly when vessels are overcrowded or operated by smugglers.
The latest incidents add to the number of people who have died or gone missing while attempting Mediterranean crossings in 2026. The full regional death toll requires confirmation from the latest available figures.
Greek authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about migrant-smuggling networks and the risks posed to passengers. The circumstances of each maritime encounter, however, require separate investigation before responsibility can be established.
The causes of Monday’s collision off Lesbos and the capsize off Samos had not been fully established in the initial reports. The two incidents remain separate, but their combined death toll has renewed attention on the human cost of migration across the Aegean Sea.
