Feb 5, 9:07 AM
Deadly Boat Collision Off Chios Leaves Dozens of Migrants Dead and Injured
A crash between a migrant vessel and the Greek coast guard near the island of Chios has triggered a major rescue operation, with fatalities continuing to rise.
A maritime incident off the Greek island of Chios has resulted in multiple deaths and injuries after a boat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel, according to emergency services and Greek media.
Rescue teams have so far recovered at least 14 bodies from the sea, while more than 20 injured people have been taken to hospital on the island. Authorities warned that the toll could rise, as several passengers remain unaccounted for.
Initial information indicates that more than 35 people were on board the small boat, which had departed from Turkey and was heading toward the eastern Aegean island. A patrol vessel from the Greek coast guard reportedly intercepted the boat and instructed it to change course. For reasons that remain under investigation, the two vessels then collided, causing several people to fall into the water.
Emergency services have been transporting survivors and the injured to the port of Chios, where ambulances are shuttling them to the island’s hospital. Medical teams are continuing to assess patients as they arrive, while authorities prepare for the possibility of additional casualties.
In response to the crash, the Greek coast guard launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, supported by the air force. A helicopter equipped with thermal imaging technology has been deployed to scan the area, amid concerns that some passengers may still be missing in the cold waters of the Aegean.
The incident highlights the ongoing dangers of irregular migration routes between Turkey and Greece. Smuggling networks frequently attempt to move migrants across short but hazardous sea passages to Greek islands close to the Turkish coast. According to data from the UN refugee agency, nearly 1,000 migrants have made the crossing to eastern Aegean islands since the start of the year.
Investigators are now working to establish how the collision occurred and whether standard maritime procedures were followed. Until those findings are known, the precise sequence of events remains unclear — though the human cost is already painfully evident.
