Nov 28, (V7N) - At least four people have tragically died after a migrant boat sank in the Aegean Sea, near the Greek island of Samos, according to the Greek coastguard. The bodies of the victims were recovered Thursday, and the coastguard has launched a search operation to locate any survivors, with 16 others rescued from the water. This incident follows another fatal drowning earlier in the week, also near Samos, which left nine people dead, including six minors and two women.

In total, Greece has seen a sharp rise in migrant deaths in the region, with a 25 percent increase this year in the number of people fleeing war and poverty. Particularly, there has been a 30 percent surge in arrivals to the Southeast Aegean, including the islands of Rhodes and Lesbos. These areas have become key points of entry for migrants attempting to reach Europe.

Similar boat tragedies have occurred in recent weeks, including a disaster near Rhodes in early November, which claimed the lives of four individuals, and another near Samos in late October, which resulted in the deaths of two people. These incidents underscore the perilous journey many asylum seekers face in their attempts to escape dangerous situations in their home countries.

The ongoing tragedies highlight the need for stronger efforts to address the root causes of migration, as well as to improve safety measures for those attempting to make the dangerous sea crossings.

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