State television reported that three migrants had died and at least another 25 people were missing after the boat they were on sank off the Greek Island of Samos.

The Greek coastguard has said that it has rescued five migrants to date. A search and rescue operation is being conducted by four coastguard ships and a helicopter off the rocks of AgiosIsidoros in the northwestern region of the island.

In 2015-2016, Greece was the preferred gateway into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Nearly 1 million people arrived on its islands mainly via inflatable dinghies.

The number of people who came to the country had decreased before it re-emerged last year. (Reporting and editing by Angeliki Koutantou, Renee Maltezou and Gareth Jones).

(source: Reuters)