A boat carrying irregular migrants from Turkey sank off the Greek island of Samos on Tuesday, prompting a large-scale rescue operation in which 28 people were saved while three others remain missing, according to Greek authorities.

The Hellenic Coast Guard said search-and-rescue teams were continuing efforts to locate the missing migrants amid challenging weather conditions, with winds reaching force 5 on the Beaufort scale. The migrants were discovered close to the coastline after their vessel reportedly struck rocks and capsized.

Those rescued were transported to a local hospital on Samos for first aid and medical evaluation. Local media outlet Samos Today reported that an injured baby was in serious condition and was airlifted to Athens for specialised treatment. Authorities said the nationalities of the rescued migrants have not yet been confirmed.

The incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by migrants attempting perilous sea crossings into the European Union. Greece has remained one of the primary entry points for refugees and irregular migrants since the height of the migration crisis in 2015. Over the past decade, more than one million people have arrived by sea, while hundreds have died during hazardous journeys across the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

According to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), irregular migration flows along the Eastern Mediterranean route have declined significantly in 2025. Data released by the agency shows a 30 per cent drop in arrivals during the first 11 months of the year compared with the same period in 2024. Frontex estimates that approximately 46,200 migrants reached Greek waters during this period.

Despite the overall decline, tragedies continue to occur. Just last week, a 12-year-old boy died in another incident off Samos after a trafficker allegedly forced migrants to jump into the sea from a speedboat when approached by a Greek patrol vessel. The child reportedly suffered fatal injuries after being struck by the boat’s propeller. Authorities rescued 37 other migrants and transferred them to a local hospital, while launching a manhunt for the suspected smuggler.

In a separate incident earlier this month, Greek authorities recovered the bodies of 17 migrants and rescued two survivors from a vessel that sank off the island of Crete on December 6. These incidents highlight the continued risks posed by human smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable people seeking safety or better economic opportunities in Europe.

Frontex data also points to shifting migration patterns. While arrivals through the Eastern Mediterranean have fallen, detections along the Libya–Crete corridor surged sharply in 2025, rising by more than 270 per cent year-on-year. Officials say smugglers are increasingly altering routes in response to enhanced patrols and border controls elsewhere.

Greek authorities have repeatedly called for stronger international cooperation to combat trafficking networks and prevent loss of life at sea. As rescue teams continue to search for the missing migrants near Samos, officials reiterated warnings about the extreme dangers of irregular sea crossings and the urgent need for safer, legal migration pathways.