At least 22 people, including families stuck in a flooded compartment, died when a ferry and a yacht loaded with migrants who were attempting to enter into Greece tipped over in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea on Monday, Greek authorities reported.

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Search and rescue operations sent out teams to look for at least seven people who were still unaccounted for in what was considered as one of the most fatal sea accidents in Greece involving migrant boats in recent history and the third deadliest maritime disaster in the country in 2014.

Most of the boat passengers came from unstable or war-torn countries in Africa and the Middle East.

The sea vessels capsized early morning near Samos Island, a popular place for gangs who smuggle migrants because of the place's proximity to the coast of Turkey.  The Greek coastal authority mentioned that the reason why the overloaded boats overturned was not instantly clear.

Merchant marine minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis of Greece expressed his devastation over the incident and said that the Greek government should work with other members of the European Union to come up with a joint plan to effectively curb the operations of migrant smugglers.

According to Varvitsiotis, the contemporary slave traders make money by putting the lives of thousands of people at risk, transporting them at night in the Aegean Sea using small boats.

Deadly accidents usually happen as the migrants who want to live better lives in Europe risk crossing the dangerous sea from Turkey.

In spite of the severe financial hurdles that lead to the bankruptcy of Greece that happened four years ago, the country remains to be the preferred entry point for Asian and African migrants.

Official tally recorded 36 people who were rescued, including 32 male, three females, and one child, and the child who is under a critical condition was airlifted to a nearby hospital for necessary medical attention.