At least 14 migrants have died after a speedboat carrying them collided with a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel off the coast of the island of Chios late on Tuesday. Greek authorities said the speedboat was making dangerous manoeuvres and that a pursuit was underway at the time of the collision in the Chios Strait, near the village of Vrontades.
Twenty-four people were rescued, some of whom are seriously injured, and others are reportedly still missing. The coastguard has not yet clarified the exact circumstances surrounding the collision.
A search and rescue operation was ongoing on Tuesday night, which involved four coastguard vessels, a privately owned boat carrying civilian divers, and a helicopter. Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that the injured included seven children, a pregnant woman, and two coastguard officers.
Initially, four deaths were reported, but an update issued later confirmed that ten additional bodies had been recovered, raising the death toll to 14.
Twenty-four people were rescued, some of whom are seriously injured, and others are reportedly still missing. The coastguard has not yet clarified the exact circumstances surrounding the collision.
A search and rescue operation was ongoing on Tuesday night, which involved four coastguard vessels, a privately owned boat carrying civilian divers, and a helicopter. Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that the injured included seven children, a pregnant woman, and two coastguard officers.
Initially, four deaths were reported, but an update issued later confirmed that ten additional bodies had been recovered, raising the death toll to 14.
