At least two dead in migrant shipwreck in Aegean US, shot down suspected spy balloon from China

At least two people drowned on Sunday when a boat carrying migrants sank in the Aegean Sea. 32 people were rescued from the water or reached the coast of the Greek island of Leros on their own. As the Greek state broadcaster (ERT) further reported, citing the Coast Guard, the search and rescue operation at Leros continued. The rescued had therefore told authorities that there were about 40 people on board when they departed from the Turkish coast. On Sunday, wind force six prevailed in the region, it was also said.

Time and again migrants try to get to Greece or even directly to southern Italy from Turkey’s west coast and from countries in the Middle East. The boats are usually hopelessly overcrowded and in poor condition. Serious accidents happen again and again.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 326 people drowned or went missing last year trying to cross to Europe from Turkey or other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. This means that the number of victims has almost tripled compared to 2021, according to UNHCR statistics. In 2021, 115 people were killed or missing. (saw/sda/dpa)