Child dead after boat carrying refugees sinks off Greece's Samos island

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, November 9, 2020
Adjust font size:

ATHENS, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A child has died after a dinghy carrying refugees and migrants from Turkey to Greece sank off the Greek island of Samos in the Aegean Sea on Sunday, Greek authorities said.

The body of a boy was retrieved in the sea area, while 11 migrants and refugees were rescued, according to an e-mailed press release issued by Greece's Coast Guard.

Another 13 people were found along the island's coastline.

A total of 25 people were on board the boat when it capsized, the Coast Guard said.

Hundreds of people have perished in the Aegean since 2015 when the mass flows of refugees and migrants started, mainly from Turkey to Greece.

Over a million people reached Greece and most continued their journey to other European countries until the closure of borders along the Balkan route in the winter of 2016.

After an EU-Turkey agreement was reached in the spring of 2016 aiming to address the issue, the influx was dramatically reduced. Nonetheless thousands still cross into Greece each year.

Currently, the country hosts about 90,000 asylum seekers, according to Greek authorities. Some 18,000 are hosted mainly in overcrowded facilities on five Greek islands, including Samos. Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter