Three migrants died and 16 others were rescued off the Greek island of Lesbos on Tuesday after a dinghy transporting them from the nearby coast of Turkey hit rocks in high winds, authorities said.

The coast guard said the three bodies were recovered off the eastern coast of the island, adding that a rescue effort involving two patrol boats, a helicopter and ground crews was underway to search for others possibly missing. 

GREECE'S MIGRATION MINISTER SAYS THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS ARRIVING IN THE COUNTRY HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY

Helicopter rescue in Greece

A helicopter searches for migrants over the Aegean Sea near the northwestern island of Lesbos, Greece, on Feb. 7, 2023. Three migrants died and 16 were rescued off the Greek island of Lesbos after their dinghy crashed into rocks. (Greek Coast Guard via AP)

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None of the people on the dinghy had been given life jackets. The tragedy in the eastern Aegean Sea occurred two days after four children and a woman died when a boat carrying more than 40 migrants smashed into rocks on island of Leros.