ATHENS — Four people, including a child, drowned on Tuesday when a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greek authorities said.

The Greek coast guard said patrol crews recovered the bodies of two women, a man, and a young girl from the sea near the island’s southern coast.

A partially submerged boat was found close to a rocky shoreline nearby.

Thirty-four survivors managed to reach shore on their own, where they were located by police.

Officials said a search and rescue operation involving coast guard vessels and helicopters was called off after survivors confirmed there had been 38 people aboard and no others were missing.

The cause of the sinking remains unclear, and authorities have yet to release details about the victims’ or survivors’ nationalities.

Greece remains one of the main gateways into the European Union for migrants and refugees fleeing war, persecution, and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Many attempt the dangerous crossing from Turkey’s coast to nearby Greek islands in overcrowded and often unseaworthy boats.

Despite increased patrols and tighter border controls, deadly incidents in the Aegean Sea continue to claim lives as migrants risk perilous conditions in search of safety and stability. — Agencies