Greek authorities have recovered the bodies of four individuals from the sea near the eastern Aegean island of Rhodes, with an additional 25 survivors found on land following a tragic incident involving a migrant smuggler. The bodies of three men and one woman were discovered on the southern tip of Rhodes, while the group of survivors was located on land, initially with 11 individuals found and the remaining survivors located later.
According to reports from the survivors, they were being transported from the Turkish coast to the Greek island on a speedboat when the smuggler operating the vessel forced them overboard into the water before abandoning them. A search and rescue operation was conducted in the area, with authorities confirming that there were no additional missing persons after consulting with the survivors. The nationalities of the passengers have not yet been disclosed.
This tragic incident is the latest in a series of fatal cases involving migrants attempting to enter the European Union via sea routes from Turkey or North Africa. Greece serves as a key entry point into the EU for individuals fleeing conflict and poverty in regions such as Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Many migrants travel to Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast on smuggling boats, while others undertake the more perilous journey across the Mediterranean from North Africa.
Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos has expressed the government's intention to advocate for stricter EU migration policies in light of the escalating arrivals by sea, which have more than doubled since last fall. There are considerations to establish detention facilities on islands like Rhodes and Crete to manage the influx of migrants. By early November, over 50,000 migrants had been registered as arriving in Greece, with the majority arriving by sea, as reported by the U.N. refugee agency.
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