One person has died and three remain missing after a migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Samos on Monday, authorities said.

Twenty-six migrants reached shore in the Petalides area and alerted authorities that others were still at sea. The coast guard, along with a helicopter, a private boat, and ground teams, launched search and rescue operations. The body of a woman was recovered, while searches continue for the three missing migrants.

The nationalities of those involved have not been disclosed. Greece has remained a major entry point for migrants into the European Union, with over 1 million arrivals recorded since 2015. Despite a 30% drop in irregular migration through the eastern Mediterranean in the first 11 months of 2025, Frontex reported a sharp rise in activity along the Libya-Crete corridor, up 272% compared with last year.

The Samos incident follows recent migrant tragedies in Greek waters, including the recovery of 17 bodies off Crete on 6 December and the death of a 12-year-old boy struck by a boat propeller on 8 December. Another boat crashed into rocks off Samos a week later, leaving three migrants missing and 28 rescued.

Copied