A tragedy unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Pylos, Greece, on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, when a fishing vessel carrying hundreds of migrants capsized and sank. 78 people have been confirmed dead and 104 were rescued by the Greek Coast Guard in a rescue operation that utilized six Coast Guard vessels, a Greek Navy frigate, a military transport plane, an Air Force helicopter, several private vessels, and a drone from the European Union border protection agency.
At least 650 people were estimated to be on board when the boat began to sink at around 2:30 a.m. local time, though this has not been confirmed. None of the rescued were reported to be wearing life jackets. The survivors have been brought to a hospital in Kalamata, a city in Southern Greece.
The Greek Coast Guard had been alerted on Tuesday midday as the fishing boat traveled through international waters. A ship approached the fishing boat with supplies later on Tuesday, but the migrants refused to accept aid, stating that they wanted to continue on their path to Italy.
Recent statistics on illegal border crossing detected in the Central Mediterranean are staggering. According to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the number of such crossings nearly quadrupled in the first four months of the year from the previous period. More than 42,200 crossings were recorded from January to April, indicating the highest level since Frontex began collecting data in 2009.
Organised crime groups are taking advantage of political volatility in some countries to increase the number of migrants smuggled across EU borders. The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration has called for comprehensive action, including more pathways for legal migration, in response to the tragedy. This most recent incident is a reminder of the urgent need to create long-term solutions to the international migration crisis.