ATHENS, Greece — On Thursday, search operations were underway in the Mediterranean Sea near the southernmost point of Greece for two individuals who have gone missing after a boat carrying 100 migrants sank the day before. The Greek Coast Guard reported developments in the ongoing rescue efforts.

On Wednesday, the body of a man was retrieved from the water, while a Turkish-flagged cargo vessel successfully rescued 97 individuals. The surviving group, consisting of 85 men, two women, and ten minors, was transported to Crete, where one of the women was admitted to the hospital for further assessment.

Greek authorities have apprehended two men, aged 26 and 24, among the survivors, suspecting them of being involved in human smuggling operations. The Coast Guard noted that the survivors indicated they had embarked on their journey to Greece from Tobruk, Libya, last Sunday, each paying a smuggling fee ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 euros. Details surrounding the cause of the boat’s sinking have yet to be determined.

Earlier this week, a separate incident occurred near the eastern Greek island of Kos, resulting in the deaths of two women and two children when a smuggling boat making its way from Turkey capsized. In this incident, 27 others were successfully rescued.

Greece remains a significant entry point into the European Union for individuals escaping turmoil and hardship in regions like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Thousands of migrants routinely make their way to the Greek islands, often relying on small, overcrowded boats departing from the Turkish coast. Many others attempt the more perilous journey across the Mediterranean from northern Africa.

As of early October, over 42,000 migrants had been registered upon their arrival in Greece, with the vast majority opting for sea routes, according to data released by the United Nations refugee agency.

As efforts to locate the missing persons continued off the southern coast of Greece, leaders of the European Union were convening in Brussels to deliberate on migration issues. They aimed to explore strategies to create a less welcoming environment for migrants and asylum seekers, a response to a noticeable increase in support for far-right movements that have stirred anti-immigrant sentiments.