Collision between Greek coastguard vessel, migrant boat kills at least 14 | Migration News
14 Dead in Migrant Boat Collision with Greek Coastguard Vessel
A tragic collision in the Aegean Sea near the island of Chios has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, according to Greece’s coastguard. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday, off the coast of the island’s Mersinidi area, as reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).
In the aftermath, 26 survivors were rescued, including 24 migrants and two coastguard officers. They were transported to a hospital in Chios for medical attention. Reports indicate that seven children and a pregnant woman were among the injured.
A comprehensive search-and-rescue operation is currently under way, involving patrol boats, a helicopter, and divers, AMNA confirmed. Footage released by Greece’s Ta Nea newspaper appears to document the arrival of rescue personnel with at least one injured individual being transported from a boat to an emergency vehicle.
An unnamed coastguard official provided details to Reuters, stating that the collision occurred when the migrant boat “maneuvered toward” the coastguard vessel, which had instructed it to turn back.
Greece has long been a critical transit point for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia attempting to reach Europe. During the peak of the migration crisis in 2015 and 2016, nearly one million people arrived on Greek islands, including Chios, from neighboring Türkiye.
In recent years, however, the number of arrivals has declined significantly as Greek authorities have implemented stricter asylum seeker policies and increased border controls, including enhanced sea patrols.
The country has faced scrutiny regarding its treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, particularly following a shipwreck in 2023 that resulted in the deaths of hundreds and allegations of the coastguard attempting to tow the vessel. Last year, the European Union’s border agency announced a review of 12 potential human rights violations attributed to Greece, which includes claims that asylum seekers have been pushed back from the country’s frontiers.
Greek authorities have consistently denied any allegations of human rights violations or the practice of returning asylum seekers to sea.
