How tragic can a night at sea get? Off the Greek island of Chios, disaster struck when a migrant boat collided with a coast guard vessel. It capsized and sank late Tuesday.
Fifteen lives were lost, making it one of Greece’s deadliest migrant shipwrecks in years.
The boat, overloaded with at least 39 passengers, was sailing without lights.
It ignored warnings from the coast guard before changing course, authorities said.
All on board were thrown into the churning waters just a few miles from Turkey.
So far, 14 bodies have been recovered, 25 survivors rescued—including seven women, seven men, and 11 minors—and one woman later died in hospital.
Deadly Migrant Tragedy
The aftermath was heartbreaking: two pregnant women suffered miscarriages, and at least three others remain in critical condition.
Volunteer diver Vangelis Kirithras described the scene starkly: “What we first saw was an inflatable boat that was hit with dead bodies inside.”
Authorities have launched an investigation, noting that a Moroccan survivor is considered a suspect in migrant smuggling.
The coast guard’s cameras were reportedly not active at the time.
Meanwhile, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris praised the rescue efforts, despite the tragic outcome.
Most of the migrants were Afghans, desperately trying to reach safety.
But the night’s events serve as a grim reminder: when desperation meets danger at sea, the cost can be heartbreakingly high.
