ATHENS (Reuters). – At least 16 people lost their lives when the boat they were on overturned in the middle Aegean Sea off Paros Island, Greece, Friday. It was the third maritime accident involving migrants this week.

The authorities responded quickly to the call and launched an overnight search-and-rescue operation in northwest Paros. The coastguard stated that both air and sea resources were used to reach the region.

Although Greece remains one of the major routes to the European Union by migrants from Africa and the Middle East, it has seen a decrease in flow since 2015-2016 when over a million refugees crossed the country to reach other EU countries.

Athens News Agency, a semi-official country news agency said that 12 bodies were found in the region. Three women and one infant had also been recovered.

According to coastguard, the ship was carrying eighty passengers and it is believed that they were heading for Italy.

It is not clear what caused the vessel to capsize.

Giannis Plakiotakis is Greece’s shipping minister. He said that trafficking gangs are responsible for these disasters.

He stated in writing that the gangs were “indifferent to human lives, stacking dozens, without lifejackets in vessels which don’t conform to basic safety standards”, he added.

Greek authorities announced Friday that they have recovered eleven bodies from another shipwreck scene. On Thursday, a sailing boat carrying migrants crashed off an island in south Greece.

In that rescue operation, another 90 migrants were also rescued. According to the coastguard, initial reports suggested that these migrants were also heading towards Italy.

A boat carrying 50 people was believed to have sunk off Folegandros overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. Many others are still missing.