Greece says 21 die in migrant boat sinkings in Aegean Sea

In this Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, a man tries to warm up a child after a boat with refugees and migrants sunk while crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos. She was among 242 people rescued from a boat that sank overnight in rough seas off the Greek island’s north coast. Eight people drowned and 33 remained missing. In all, five separate incidents in the eastern Aegean Sea on Wednesday left at least 12 people dead, most of them children. AP

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities say 21 people have died after two boats carrying migrants and refugees from Turkey to Greece sank overnight, in the latest deadly incidents in the eastern Aegean Sea.

The Merchant Marine Ministry said 18 people were killed and 138 people were rescued near the island of Kalymnos, while another three died and six were rescued in a separate incident early Friday off the island of Rhodes.

READ: Dozens missing after migrant boat sinks off Greece | 7 children die after migrant boats sink off Greece

The deaths occurred amid a surge of crossings to Greek islands involving migrants and refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries ahead of winter and as European governments weight taking tougher measures to try and limit the number of arrivals in Europe.

Eight people were killed early Thursday after a boat capsized off the island of Lesbos.