A devastating maritime collision off the coast of Greece has resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least fifteen individuals, following an incident involving a migrant speedboat and a Greek coast guard patrol vessel. The tragic event has triggered an extensive search and rescue operation in the eastern Aegean Sea, near the island of Chios, as authorities work to determine if any passengers remain missing.
Search and Rescue Efforts Intensify Following Fatal Collision
In the immediate aftermath of the collision, patrol boats and divers were swiftly deployed to the scene, supported by a helicopter conducting aerial surveillance of the area. Official reports confirm that the bodies of fourteen people—eleven men and three women—were recovered from the sea. An additional twenty-five migrants, including approximately eleven children, were successfully rescued and transported to a hospital on Chios for urgent medical attention.
Injuries and Hospital Response
Among those receiving treatment were two coast guard officers who sustained injuries during the incident. Tragically, one of the rescued women later succumbed to her injuries in hospital, bringing the total death toll to fifteen. Michalis Giannakos, the head of Greece's public hospital workers' union, stated that medical staff at the Chios hospital were placed on high alert to manage the sudden influx of casualties. Speaking on Greece's Open TV channel, Mr Giannakos indicated that several of the injured required surgical intervention, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Uncertainty Surrounds Passenger Numbers
The Greek coast guard has emphasised that the exact number of individuals aboard the migrant speedboat remains unclear, necessitating the ongoing search and rescue mission to locate any potentially missing passengers. Footage broadcast by a local news outlet depicted at least one person being carried in a blanket from a coast guard boat to a waiting vehicle with blue flashing lights, while others appeared to guide two children toward the same transport.
Investigation into the Collision
At present, there is no further information regarding the precise circumstances that led to the collision between the vessels. The incident underscores the perilous nature of migrant journeys across the Aegean Sea, a route frequently used by those seeking entry into Europe. As the search operation continues, authorities are focused on providing medical care to the survivors and clarifying the full extent of this maritime tragedy.
