World · Europe · 1 hr ago
12 migrants die in two boat incidents in Greece's Aegean Sea
Twelve migrants died in two separate boat incidents in Greece’s Aegean Sea on Monday.
Six people, including an infant, died when a speedboat carrying migrants from Turkey collided with a coast guard vessel off Lesvos and overturned.
Eight people survived that collision and were taken to hospital.
Greek authorities arrested a Turkish survivor, whom they suspect of operating the Lesvos boat.
Six more people died when a boat capsized off Samos, while 14 people from that boat were rescued.
The Aegean is a common crossing route for people travelling from Turkey toward Europe, and Greece says it has zero tolerance for migrant smugglers.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the Lesvos collision.
Twelve migrants died in two boat incidents in Greece’s Aegean Sea on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Six people died when a speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coast guard vessel and overturned off Lesvos.
Another six died when a boat capsized off Samos, while 14 people from that boat were rescued.
Eight people survived the Lesvos incident and were taken to hospital.
Greek authorities said a survivor was arrested on suspicion of operating the Lesvos boat and smuggling migrants.
- Who
- Twelve migrants died; other people on the boats were rescued.
- What
- Two boat incidents killed six people each: a collision and overturning off Lesvos, and a capsizing off Samos.
- When
- Monday, October 19, 2026. The Lesvos incident occurred early that morning.
- Where
- Off the Greek islands of Lesvos and Samos in the Aegean Sea.
- Why
- The migrants were attempting to cross the Aegean Sea. The precise circumstances of the Lesvos collision were under investigation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coast guard vessel and overturned off Lesvos, killing six people.
A boat capsized off Samos, killing six people; 14 others were rescued.
- Deaths
- 12 migrants across two incidents
- Lesvos deaths
- 6
- Lesvos survivors
- 8, taken to hospital
- Samos deaths
- 6
- Samos survivors
- 14 rescued
3 sources
What people are saying
Our position is non-negotiable: zero tolerance for smugglers