At least 16 migrants have lost their lives, with one individual reported missing, and over 40 rescued after two boats capsized in the Aegean Sea between Turkey and the Greek island of Lesbos, as confirmed by Greek and Turkish officials.

Among the deceased are three children, as reported by multiple agencies.

The Greek Coast Guard reported that one of its patrol vessels encountered a five-meter-long boat that was taking on water, leading to several passengers falling overboard.

A total of 23 people were rescued, and survivors informed Greek authorities that there were 31 individuals on board at the time of the incident.

A search and rescue operation was initiated, involving helicopters, coast guard vessels, and the European border agency Frontex.

Rescuers retrieved the bodies of seven victims from the water, while one girl remains missing, with search efforts for her ongoing.

One survivor has been apprehended on suspicion of being a migrant smuggler, as other passengers indicated that he was steering the boat.

The nationalities of the migrants aboard the capsized boat have yet to be determined.

The Turkish Coast Guard also participated in the search operation after receiving a distress call from one of the boats, dispatching three vessels and a helicopter in response.

Greece has become a primary entry point into the European Union for migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

In light of increasing crossings, the Greek government has intensified maritime patrols, resulting in smugglers shifting their operations further south.

In 2022, more than 54,000 migrants utilized the eastern Mediterranean route to reach Greece, with 7,700 crossing the land border with Turkey, according to statistics from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Reports state that 125 migrants have lost their lives or gone missing during these perilous journeys.

As of March 30 of this year, the UNHCR indicated that over 8,000 refugees had arrived in Greece via sea routes, while 755 had entered through land routes.