Greece Official confirms that a Greek Coast Guard ship collided with a smuggling boat carrying illegal immigrants near the Greek island of Chios in eastern Greece on Tuesday night (3rd), resulting in at least 15 deaths, more than 20 injuries, and several people missing.
According to media reports, the incident occurred around 9 pm local time on Tuesday, when a speedboat carrying dozens of illegal immigrants from Turkey attempted to land these migrants near Chios. A maritime police boat spotted the speedboat and chased it, preventing it from approaching the beach, but a collision occurred during the subsequent pursuit.
The notification issued by the Greek Coast Guard indicated that search and rescue personnel have recovered 14 bodies from the water, including 12 men and 2 women. Another woman succumbed to injuries after being taken to the hospital.
Furthermore, the accident resulted in over twenty injuries, including 11 children and 2 Coast Guard officers. All injured individuals have been transported to local hospitals on Chios for treatment.
Following the accident, Greek authorities immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation. The Greek Coast Guard stated that as the total number of people on the distressed speedboat remains unknown, including 4 patrol boats, 1 Air Force helicopter, and a vessel carrying divers are still searching for potential missing persons in the relevant maritime area.
According to reports from the Greek Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the Coast Guard vessel issued warning signals to the immigrant boat upon detection, but the boat still attempted to flee.
As of the time of this report, Greek authorities have not disclosed the specific details of the collision, and the identities of the deceased or other passengers on the speedboat have not been revealed by the Greek Coast Guard.
Chios is located in the eastern Aegean Sea, only about 8 kilometers away from the Turkish coast, serving as one of the main maritime routes for a large number of illegal immigrants attempting to reach European countries from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In recent years, smuggling activities in the region have been frequent, prompting Greek law enforcement agencies to intensify maritime patrols.