October becomes deadliest month this year for Aegean crossings

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by the continued loss of life in the Aegean Sea. In the latest incident, on 27 October, four people drowned and 31 were rescued following a shipwreck off Lesvos. This tragic incident brings the number of deaths in the Aegean Sea this month to 15, across seven separate incidents near the islands of Lesvos, Samos, Rhodes, Chios and Farmakonissi. Nearly half of all reported deaths in the Aegean so far in 2025 have occurred in October alone.

Many of those attempting these dangerous sea crossings are fleeing conflict, persecution and serious human rights violations. So far this year, 37 people have lost their life and at least nine remain missing in 24 separate incidents in the Aegean. These are avoidable and heartbreaking losses.

While arrivals to Europe have decreased compared to 2024, the number of lives lost at sea remains alarmingly high. Across the Mediterranean and West Africa maritime routes, over 1,600 people have died or gone missing this year, following 3,530 last year.

UNHCR continues to call for a comprehensive response that tackles the entire displacement journey. This includes increased support for countries hosting most of the world’s refugees near their places of origin, improving protection and intensifying assistance and solutions along the routes. This comprehensive response would also provide safer and regular options for both refugees and migrants should they need to move. Strong international cooperation remains crucial, as do efforts to resolve conflicts and ensure respect for human rights, so that people are not forced to risk their lives in search of safety.

The latest tragedy came one day before the tenth anniversary of one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea. On 28 October 2015, a wooden boat carrying hundreds of people capsized off northern Lesvos, claiming at least 70 lives, including 20 children. We wish to commend the efforts of all those involved in often difficult search-and-rescue operations. However, a decade after the October 2015 tragedy, the persistence of such devastating incidents underscores the urgent need for concerted action to prevent further loss of life at sea.

Greek