At least nine migrants died in the Aegean Sea

At least nine migrants died on Thursday drowned at the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Türkiye, when the rubber boat turned. The announcement was made by the Turkish coast guard, after a similar accident in neighboring Greek waters.

« The lifeless bodies of nine irregular migrants were recovered, » the authorities of Türkiye announced, adding that the searches would continue in the wreck area. The warning was given just before 6:30 am (4:30 am in Lisbon), and the authorities were able to rescue 25 living migrants, the same source said.

The accident happened in the waters surrounding the Turkish district of Ayvacik (northwest), whose beaches are less than 10 kilometers from the Greek island of Lesbos.

A similar wreck also made at least seven dead today, including three minors in nearby Greek waters, and 23 people were rescued, according to the Greek port police.

A source of the Turkish coast guard assured that these were two distinct accidents.

Wrecks are common during these crossings, between the Turkish coast and the neighboring Greek islands, such as Samos and Lesbos, entry points for the European Union.

According to the International Migration Organization (IMP), almost 400 migrants disappeared or were recovered dead in the Mediterranean in 2025.