A search and rescue operation is underway in the eastern Aegean Sea after a fatal collision between a Greek coast guard patrol vessel and a migrant speedboat left at least 15 people dead.
The incident occurred late Tuesday night (February 3) off the island of Chios. Authorities have recovered the bodies of 11 men and three women from the water, while a fourth woman died later in a hospital. Among the 24 survivors currently being treated for injuries are 11 children. Two coast guard officers were also injured in the crash.
According to a coast guard statement, the patrol boat encountered the speedboat traveling without navigation lights. Officials claim the speedboat refused to stop and attempted to flee, resulting in a collision that caused the vessel to capsize. This account has not been independently verified, and photos released show significant abrasion on the side of the patrol boat.
Chios hospital staff remain on alert as several of the injured require surgery. Greece remains a primary—though increasingly dangerous—gateway into the European Union for those fleeing poverty and conflict.
While the EU recently overhauled its migration laws to tighten borders, the Mediterranean remains the world's deadliest migration corridor.
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