A boat with migrants has sunk in the Aegean Sea, between the Turkish mainland and the Greek island of Lesbos, the Greek Coast Guard said Thursday. At least seven people, including two children, died.

The boat was on its way from the Turkish coast to the nearby Lesbos. It had been detected by a patrolling coast guard vessel in the early morning hours.

At least 23 people have been rescued. They were taken to a hospital, the Turkish news agency Anadolu said.

It is still unclear what caused the boat to capsize. Also, there is no information on the total number of people on the boat or their nationalities yet.

What will happen now?

A search and rescue operation is still ongoing. It includes three coast guard vessels, an air force helicopter and a nearby boat to search for potentially more victims.

Why was the boat on its way to Greece?

Greece's islands are often the first destination to the European Union for migrants from all over the world. Many of them flee conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Last year, about 54,000 people reached Greece, most of them by boat.

According to a report by the organization Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), at least 171 people died or went missing in 2024 on their way in the Aegean Sea.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery