Twelve migrants died after their boats capsized off the Greek islands of Lesbos and Samos

Twelve migrants died on Monday in two maritime incidents off the Greek islands of Lesbos and Samos, in the northeastern Aegean Sea, after the boats they were using to reach Greece from Turkey capsized. The exact circumstances are under investigation, and two survivors were detained on suspicion of migrant smuggling.

Near Samos, a motorboat made a sudden maneuver while being pursued by the Hellenic Coast Guard and capsized approximately four nautical miles from the island. Five men and one woman died, while 14 people survived. An Iranian national among the survivors was arrested.

Earlier, in the Agrilia area of Lesbos, a boat collided with a coast guard vessel and capsized. Four men, a woman and a baby died, while eight people were rescued and taken to hospital. A 37-year-old Turkish national was detained in this case.

Greece's Minister of Maritime Transport, Vassilis Kikilias, said that Greece would show “zero tolerance” toward smugglers. Greece was one of the main entry points into Europe during the 2015-2016 migration crisis, when nearly one million people arrived on the Greek islands.