Collision Between Hellenic Coast Guard Vessel and Migrant Boat Kills At Least 14
Collision off Chios at about 9 p.m. local time left at least 14 dead and at least 24 rescued as search-and-rescue operations continued.
Overview
The Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed a collision around 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday off Chios that killed at least 14 people and sparked a multi-vessel search-and-rescue operation.
The incident occurred amid intensified eastern Aegean patrols and follows scrutiny over alleged pushbacks and a 2023 shipwreck that killed hundreds, raising questions about Greece's migrant enforcement, records show.
Michalis Giannakos, head of Greece's public hospital workers' union, said Chios hospitals were on alert and that several injured patients required surgery, while the coastguard confirmed two of its officers were hurt.
The Hellenic Coast Guard said it recovered 14 bodies and rescued 24 people, while the AP reported 25 rescued and a later hospital death bringing that outlet's toll to 15, reflecting conflicting counts.
A search-and-rescue operation involving four coastguard vessels, an air force helicopter and civilian divers remained under way, and the coastguard said it had not yet clarified how the collision occurred.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the incident in factual, measured terms, relying on official statements (coast guard casualty figures), on-scene details (rescue teams, video evidence) and contextual policy background (EU migration changes, pushback allegations). Language is cautious and nonpartisan, avoiding loaded descriptors and offering multiple concrete data points and sources.
Sources (4)
FAQ
The Hellenic Coast Guard reported 14 bodies recovered and 24 people rescued. The Associated Press reported 25 rescued with a later hospital death bringing the toll to 15.
A multi-vessel operation involving four coastguard vessels, an air force helicopter, and civilian divers is ongoing to search for additional survivors.
Two Hellenic Coast Guard officers were injured, and several injured migrants required surgery at Chios hospitals, which are on high alert.
Chios is a frequent landing point for migrants from Turkey, with recent incidents including bodies found after a boat capsized and a smuggler arrest following a high-speed chase.
History
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