At Least 15 Migrants Die After Speedboat Collides with Greek Coast Guard Off Chios

At least 15 migrants died after a speedboat collided with a Greek coast guard vessel off Chios, capsizing and sinking. Twenty-four people were rescued, including children and a pregnant woman, while others remain missing. The collision occurred during a pursuit after the speedboat ignored warning signals. Greek authorities have launched an investigation, and search-and-rescue operations continue in the area.

At least 15 migrants have lost their lives after a speedboat carrying them collided with a Greek coast guard vessel off the coast of the island of Chios late on Tuesday, in what authorities have described as a tragic and chaotic incident. Greek officials said the speedboat was engaged in dangerous maneuvers at the time, prompting a pursuit by the coast guard in the Chios Strait near the village of Vrontados. The collision caused the speedboat to capsize and sink, sending all passengers into the sea. Rescue teams managed to save twenty-four people, several of whom were seriously injured, while others remain missing as search and recovery operations continue into Wednesday.
This incident has drawn attention amid ongoing scrutiny of Greece’s handling of migrant crossings, particularly following the Pylos shipwreck in June 2023. That previous tragedy, in which hundreds of migrants died after an overcrowded fishing boat sank off Greece’s southern coast, prompted both Greek and international authorities to investigate the role of the coast guard and the effectiveness of search-and-rescue practices in the region. The current collision near Chios has revived concerns about the safety of migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings and the risks associated with high-speed pursuits in crowded waters.
Search-and-rescue operations continued into Wednesday, involving four coastguard vessels, a privately owned boat with civilian divers, and a helicopter operating near Myrsinidi beach. Greek authorities reported that the injured included seven children, a pregnant woman, and two coast guard officers. Hospital authorities at Skylitseio Hospital said the injured comprised seven men, seven women, and eleven minors. Among them, three required surgery due to severe trauma to vital organs, and two pregnant women were also set to undergo surgery after doctors reported that the foetuses showed no cardiac activity. Many survivors were additionally being treated for hypothermia, head injuries, and fractures. One of the women among the injured later died from her injuries, adding to the mounting death toll.
The coast guard confirmed that two patrol boats had recovered fourteen bodies—eleven men and three women—which were taken to the hospital for autopsies. The Central Port Authority of Chios has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. Authorities explained that the patrol boat had initially spotted the migrant speedboat moving toward Chios’s eastern coast without navigation lights. Light and sound signals were given to warn the vessel, but the speedboat did not comply, instead reversing course and colliding with the patrol boat on its starboard side. The impact caused the migrant boat to capsize immediately.
In response to the accident, the Greek navy issued a navigational warning, placing the search area under Greek coordination and putting naval vessels on alert to assist if requested by the search-and-rescue coordination center. The tragedy underscores the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Aegean Sea, the challenges confronting Greek authorities in managing these crossings safely, and the risks involved in high-speed maritime pursuits. It also raises questions about maritime safety regulations, emergency response procedures, and broader humanitarian concerns regarding the treatment and protection of migrants in the region.
The incident is being closely monitored by local authorities, rescue teams, and international organizations, highlighting the continuing humanitarian challenges in the Mediterranean as migrants undertake perilous journeys in search of safety, and emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated measures to prevent further loss of life at sea.