Two females discovered following Greece migrant vessel incident

ATHENS: Two women's bodies were discovered on a rocky coast of the Greek island of Chios on Friday after a makeshift boat carrying 29 migrants ran aground, according to the coast guard. A spokesperson stated that during a rescue operation for the migrants, two women were found deceased, and 10 individuals, including three seriously injured, were taken to the hospital in Chios. The Greek Aegean islands near Turkey, such as Chios, are common entry points into Europe for those escaping war and poverty, with these dangerous journeys often resulting in fatalities. In a similar incident, on October 7, four bodies were found off the coast of Lesbos after an inflatable boat carrying 38 migrants sank. The recent increase in migrant arrivals in Greece, mainly from Libya and disembarking in Crete, has been significant. Another group of 23 individuals were rescued near Crete on Friday, as reported by the coast guard. The conservative Greek government, which has been tightening its migration policies, suspended asylum applications for those arriving by boat from North Africa for three months starting in early July. This decision has faced criticism from various international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Council of Europe.