File photo.
A 12-year-old boy was killed off the eastern Aegean island of Samos after a human trafficker allegedly forced passengers to jump from a speedboat, local reports said Monday.
The vessel was carrying 37 migrants and was approaching the northern coast near Svala in the early hours of Monday when the smuggler ordered them into the water. The boy reportedly died after being struck by the boat’s propeller as the trafficker attempted to flee. There are currently no details about the boy’s nationality or identity.
The trafficker was unable to escape with the vessel and returned to shore, where he is believed to be hiding. Coast guard authorities are conducting searches to locate and apprehend him.
The boy’s body was transported by ambulance to Samos General Hospital.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Earlier, a group of undocumented migrants landed in the nearby Livadakia area near Agios Konstantinos.Â
Samos, along with other eastern Aegean islands, was a focal point in Europe’s migrant crisis a decade ago, serving as an entry point for thousands seeking asylum.