12 people die in separate boat incidents off Greek islands

Twelve people died in two separate migrant-boat incidents off the Greek islands of Samos and Lesvos on October 19, according to Greek authorities. Six people died in each incident, including an infant in the Lesvos incident. Authorities reported that 22 people survived across the two boats, and a search for anyone missing after the Samos capsize was underway. Off Samos, a boat overturned, killing five men and one woman. The Hellenic Coast Guard said 14 men survived. Authorities identified an Iranian survivor as a suspected smuggler. The search operation was continuing on October 19, and officials had not said whether anyone remained missing. The Coast Guard said the boat was travelling at high speed and overturned after a sharp manoeuvre. It reported that a Turkish coast guard vessel first spotted the boat in Turkish waters, before a Greek patrol detected it in Greek waters. A rescue operation involved Coast Guard vessels and a Hellenic Air Force helicopter. In the separate incident off Lesvos, four men, one woman and an infant died after a migrant boat collided with a Greek Coast Guard vessel and overturned. Eight people survived. Authorities identified a 37-year-old Turkish...