Six people, including a baby, have died after a speedboat carrying migrants collided with a coast guard vessel near the Greek island of Lesvos. The incident occurred around midnight, roughly 3.5 nautical miles from Agrilia, Lesvos, as the speedboat attempted to leave Turkey's western coast.
Fatal Collision and Rescue Operation
The victims were an infant, four men, and a woman. Eight other passengers—four men, two women, and two children—were rescued from the sea and taken to hospital. According to a coast guard statement, the speedboat crashed into the coast guard vessel's bow on the left side and capsized.
A large-scale rescue operation followed throughout the night, involving three coast guard patrol boats and a Greek air force helicopter. Among those rescued was a 37-year-old Turkish national, reportedly identified as the smuggler of the foreign nationals on board. He has been arrested.
Investigation and Official Response
The coast guard confirmed that all those on board have been found. The circumstances of the crash continue to be investigated.
Greece's shipping minister, Vassilis Kikilias, said the country has "zero tolerance for traffickers," calling them "ruthless criminals." In a statement on X, he said: "The tragedy that unfolded last night in the maritime area of Lesbos fills us with sorrow and rage. Six people lost their lives, including an infant, due to the criminal actions of modern-day human traffickers. As all evidence so far indicates, the trafficker's speedboat collided with its bow on the left side of the Coast Guard vessel. The exact circumstances of the collision are under investigation. Our stance is non-negotiable: zero tolerance for traffickers. To these ruthless criminals who, in order to get rich, do not hesitate to lead desperate people, families, and innocent children to their deaths."
