An official news release from the Greek Coast Guard said official numbers of individuals rescued from the sea exceeded 1,400 people. These were people whose boats either capsized or were stranded at sea following calls for distress.

While 1400 were saved off the coats of Lesvos, Samos, Farmakonissi, Kalymnos, Kalolymnos, Symi and Rhodes between Friday morning and Monday morning, dozens lost their lives.

In what was one of the deadliest weekends in Greek waters since the start of the refugee crisis, official numbers place the death toll at 70, many of them infants and children.

Thousands reached the islands safely, further stretching local authorities, volunteer and humanitarian aid groups working around the clock to offer support to arriving refugees.