At least 15 migrants killed in collision with Greek coast guard vessel off Chios
A speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel in the eastern Aegean, resulting in at least 15 deaths and dozens rescued.
7 hrs ago
At least 15 migrants died after a speedboat collided with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel off the island of Chios in the eastern Aegean Sea on Tuesday night, authorities said.
The coast guard recovered 14 bodies from the sea—11 men and three women—according to an initial count. One injured woman who was transported to a hospital on Chios later died, bringing the total death toll to at least 15. All of the deceased were migrants.
Twenty-five migrants were rescued and transported to the hospital on Chios, including approximately 11 children and two pregnant women. Two coast guard officers were also injured in the incident and received medical treatment.
The collision occurred in the Chios Strait near Vrontados on the northeastern coast of the island, less than 15 miles from the Turkish mainland. According to the coast guard, a patrol vessel spotted a speedboat traveling at high speed without navigation lights and carrying foreign passengers. The coast guard said it issued sound and light signals to the vessel, but the speedboat did not comply and instead made a series of dangerous maneuvers before colliding with the patrol vessel, causing it to sink.
Authorities said they suspected approximately 39 people had been aboard the speedboat. The exact total number of people on board remained unclear as of Wednesday morning.
A search and rescue operation was underway involving four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter, and a private boat carrying divers to search for potentially missing passengers. The operation continued on Wednesday morning.
Several of the injured required emergency surgery for serious injuries, hospital sources said. Among those hospitalized were two pregnant women who lost their babies, according to Greek press reports citing hospital sources.
The incident was described as highly unusual because it involved direct contact between two vessels. Deadly shipwrecks are common in the Aegean, which is one of the main maritime migration routes to Europe, but such incidents have typically involved migrant boats sinking in stormy weather without contact from other vessels.