Story highlights 18 people die off Turkish coast overnight Friday

Nearly 1 million people reached EU by sea in 2015

Denmark tightens restrictions on people trying to enter

(CNN) As Christmas approaches and the end of the year draws near, people trying desperately to reach European shores from war-torn Syria and Iraq continue to die at sea.

Overnight Friday, 18 people drowned when their wooden boat sank near Kiremit island, in the Aegean Sea just off the Turkish coast, Turkey's semiofficial Anadolu Agency reported.

The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 14 people from the boat, which was attempting to transport 32 Iraqis and Syrians to the Greek island of Kos.

Once on Greek soil -- and therefore on European Union soil -- asylum seekers have a better chance of staying in Europe.

Nearly 800,000 people have arrived by sea in 2015

Read More