ATHENS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A 12-year-old boy died after a trafficker forced migrants to jump from a speedboat off the Greek island of Samos, the state broadcaster ERT reported Monday.

According to the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG), the vessel was carrying 38 migrants when a patrol boat approached. The smuggler then allegedly ordered the passengers to jump into the water before escaping toward the shore. The child suffered fatal injuries after being struck by the boat's propeller.

The boy's body and the 37 survivors were transferred to a local hospital. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the trafficker.

Greece has been a major entry point for irregular migrants and refugees into the European Union since 2015, with more than 1 million arrivals recorded. Hundreds have lost their lives attempting the sea crossing over the years.

The latest fatality followed another incident on Saturday, when Greek authorities recovered 17 bodies and rescued two migrants from a vessel off Crete.

Recent data from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, shows that irregular migration flows along the Eastern Mediterranean route fell by 25 percent in the first ten months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with about 43,000 arrivals registered in Greek waters.

However, Frontex reported sharply increased activity along the Libya-Crete corridor, where detections rose by 272 percent year-on-year during the same period. ■