Collision between migrant speedboat, Greek coast guard vessel leaves at least 15 dead

At least 15 migrants dead in collision between speedboat and Greek coast guard vessel off Chios

A deadly collision between a migrant-carrying speedboat and a Greek coast guard patrol vessel has claimed at least 15 lives off the eastern Aegean island of Chios, authorities reported late Tuesday.

According to the coast guard, 14 bodies were initially recovered from the sea – 11 men and three women. An additional 25 migrants, including approximately 11 children, were rescued and transported to a hospital on Chios along with two injured coast guard officers. One of the rescued women later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, bringing the death toll to 15.

The total number of passengers aboard the speedboat remains unclear. An extensive search and rescue operation continues in the waters surrounding Chios, involving four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter, and a private boat carrying divers searching for potential survivors or additional victims.

Local news footage captured the aftermath of the tragedy, showing rescue personnel carrying injured individuals from boats to waiting coast guard vehicles with flashing blue lights. Some rescued children were seen being led to emergency vehicles, with at least one visibly limping.

Michalis Giannakos, head of Greece’s public hospital workers’ union, told Greece’s Open TV that medical staff at Chios Hospital were placed on high alert to handle the sudden influx of injured migrants. Several of the survivors required immediate surgical intervention, according to Giannakos, as the hospital prepared for the possibility of receiving additional casualties.

The exact circumstances of the collision have not yet been disclosed by coast guard officials. The incident highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, where migrants continue to risk their lives attempting dangerous sea crossings.

Greece has long served as a major entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The relatively short crossing from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands in the eastern Aegean is one of the most frequently used routes, despite its considerable dangers.

Fatal accidents along this maritime corridor occur with alarming frequency. In recent years, however, crossing attempts have decreased, partly due to increased patrols by Greek authorities. Human rights organizations have also alleged the use of “pushbacks” – summary deportations without allowing asylum applications – as a contributing factor to the reduced numbers.

This incident occurs against the backdrop of increasingly stringent migration policies across the European Union. In December, the EU undertook a significant overhaul of its migration system, implementing measures to streamline deportations and increase detentions.

Migration remains a deeply divisive political issue across Europe. The surge in asylum-seekers a decade ago dramatically shifted public discourse on immigration, contributing to the rise of far-right political movements in several EU member states. As a result, EU migration policies have generally hardened, and the number of asylum-seekers has declined from previous record levels.

Greek authorities continue to investigate the Chios collision as search operations persist in the surrounding waters. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with irregular migration and the complex challenges faced by countries at the EU’s external borders.

Regional officials have not yet released information about the national origins of the victims and survivors, nor have they provided details about potential smuggling networks that might be connected to this crossing attempt.