At Least 15 Migrants Die after Speedboat Collides with Greek Coastguard Vessel
A collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a Greek coast guard patrol vessel off the eastern Aegean island of Chios has claimed at least 15 lives, authorities reported late Tuesday. Greek coastguard officials said the incident occurred while a search and rescue operation was underway to locate potentially missing passengers, involving four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter, and a private boat carrying divers. Fourteen bodies, including 11 men and three women, were recovered from the sea, while 25 migrants, including around 11 children, were rescued and transported to a hospital on Chios. Two coast guard officers injured during the incident were also hospitalized, and one of the injured women later died, bringing the total death toll to at least 15.
The total number of people on board the speedboat remains unclear. Video footage from local sources showed rescuers carrying at least one person in a blanket from a boat to a waiting coast guard vehicle, while others assisted children, including one limping, toward medical attention. Hospital authorities on Chios remained on high alert, with medical staff prepared for sudden influxes of injured migrants. Several of the survivors required surgery, according to Michalis Giannakos, head of Greece’s public hospital workers’ union, who said hospital staff were operating at full capacity to handle trauma cases.
Greece has long been a key entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Fatal accidents are a frequent occurrence along the short but perilous crossing from Turkey to nearby Greek islands. Authorities have increased patrols and faced criticism over alleged pushbacks, in which migrants are summarily deported without opportunities to apply for asylum. Recent policy changes by Greece and the European Union have tightened migration regulations, streamlined deportations, and increased detentions, reflecting a broader shift in EU migration policy over the past decade. Public debate over migration has grown increasingly polarized, with far-right parties gaining influence and the overall number of asylum-seekers declining from record levels.
The search and rescue operation off Chios continues as authorities work to locate any remaining passengers and investigate the circumstances leading to the collision. Hospital staff continue treating survivors for injuries including fractures, trauma, and hypothermia, while Greek authorities coordinate naval and coastguard resources to prevent further loss of life in the area.
