Thirteen Migrants Drown as Boat Sinks off a Greek Island

A small plastic boat carrying migrants from Turkey to Europe sunk, killing 7 children 4 men and 2 women.

Members of the Frontex, European Border Protection Agency, from Portugal rescue 56 people, who were lost in an open sea as they try to approach in a dinghy on the Greek island of Lesbos, Tuesday, December 8, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Greek authorities say a small plastic boat carrying migrants from Turkey to Europe has sunk off an eastern Greek islet drowning at least 13, mostly children.

The coast guard says another 15 people have been rescued, while a search is underway to locate one missing person. The dead were identified as seven children, four men and two women.

The accident occurred before dawn on Wednesday, off the small Aegean Sea island of Farmakonissi. The cause of the sinking was not immediately clear.

Migrants and refugees react as they arrive on a dinghy from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

A day earlier, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported that 11 migrants including 3 children, attempting to reach the Greek island of Samos drowned after their boat capsized. Seven others were rescued.

The agency says Turkish coast guards spotted the refugees during a routine patrol.

Women wearing thermal blankets react after being rescued, when the boat carrying some dozens of migrants and refugees, sank on their way from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos, at the port town of Petra, Greece, on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

The Geneva-based International Organization for Migrants says more than 1 million people have entered Europe as of Monday. Almost all came by sea, while 3,692 drowned in the attempt.

At least 820,000 refugees and economic migrants have reached Greece’s eastern islands this year. Nearly all have continued north, hoping for a better life in wealthier European countries.