At least 15 migrants were killed after a rare collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a patrol vessel of the Greek Coast Guard off the island of Chios in the eastern Aegean Sea, Greek authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The coast guard said the victims included 11 men and four women, while 26 others were injured, among them 11 children and two coast guard officers. Search and rescue operations were continuing on Wednesday to locate any additional survivors.
Unusual incident at sea
Officials described the incident as highly unusual, as it involved direct contact between two vessels. While deadly shipwrecks are common along the Aegean migration route, they typically occur due to overcrowding, poor weather or vessel failure.
According to the coast guard, its patrol boat detected the migrant speedboat travelling without navigation lights during a routine patrol near Chios. Authorities said the vessel ignored signals to stop and instead reversed course, colliding with the patrol boat. The impact caused the migrant boat to capsize and sink, throwing all passengers into the sea.
The Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs declined to comment on whether the deaths were caused by injuries from the collision or by drowning. Officials also did not disclose the nationalities of the migrants.
No evidence of gunfire, hospital says
Responding to speculation, Chios General Hospital said none of the injured migrants showed signs of gunshot wounds, though several underwent surgery for trauma-related injuries.
Migration tensions continue
The tragedy comes amid a tougher stance on migration by Greece, including stricter border enforcement and new laws allowing detention of asylum seekers whose applications are rejected. The Aegean Sea remains one of Europe’s most dangerous migration routes, despite a recent decline in crossings compared to previous years.
Humanitarian groups have once again urged European governments to prioritise safer migration pathways and stronger rescue mechanisms to prevent further loss of life.