Twenty-two migrants drown after boats capsize off Greek island

ATHENS (Reuters) - Twenty-two migrants drowned and at least 10 were missing after their vessels capsized off the Greek island of Samos early on Monday in seas where hundreds have died attempting the perilous crossing this year alone, the Greek coast guard said.

Thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East pack into often unsafe boats to get into the European Union through Greece, Italy, Malta and other coastal states. The numbers have increased since "Arab Spring" uprisings triggered unrest across North Africa and civil war in Syria.