According to the statement, the pilot of the speedboat initially did not comply with the light and sound signals of the Coast Guard vessel, “instead reversed course and the speedboat crashed into the starboard side of the PPA”.

According to the statement, “due to the severity of the impact, the speedboat capsized and sank, resulting in all its occupants falling into the sea.”

See photos of the Coast Guard boat that the speedboat with the illegal immigrants crashed into.

The Coast Guard statement on the tragedy in Chios

In a statement, the Coast Guard – Greek Coast Guard says about the tragic incident with the 15 dead that occurred last night in Chios:

“In the late hours of yesterday, an inflatable patrol boat of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard (L.S.-EL.AKT.), which was performing a scheduled patrol, spotted an inflatable speedboat (T/X) vessel with foreigners on board moving without navigation lights towards the eastern coast of Chios, in the sea area of Myrsinidi. The pilot of the T/C did not comply with the light and sound signals of the VMS; instead, he reversed course, and the T/C crashed into the starboard side of the VMS. Due to the severity of the impact, the T/C overturned and sank, resulting in all its occupants falling into the sea.

Under the coordination of the Uniform Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (EKSED) of the L.S.-EΛ.AKT., a search and rescue operation was immediately launched. The operation involved four (04) Patrol boats L.S.-EΛ.AKΤ. (PΛS) and a private boat with private divers on board. Two helicopters of the Air Force operated from the air.

A total of twenty-five (25) foreigners (7 men, 7 women, and 11 minors) were rescued by a P.L.S. injured and transported to the port, from where they were evacuated to the Skylitsio Hospital. Subsequently, one of them, a woman, died. Two crew members of the PPS (1 male and 1 female) were also evacuated to the hospital.

The male coastguard has already been discharged, and the female remains hospitalized for further examination. During the investigation, a total of 14 bodies (11 men and 3 women) were located and recovered from two PPAs. The bodies were transported by the vessels to the port and subsequently to the Skylitsio Hospital for the performance of an autopsy. The total number of bodies is fifteen (15).

Preliminary investigation is being carried out by the Central Port Authority of Chios. The searches to locate possibly missing foreigners are continuing with five (05) Patrol boats of the L.S.-EL.AKT. while a helicopter of the L.S.-EL.AKT took off. Attached is relevant photographic material of the inflatable patrol boat of the L.S.-EL.AKT. (P.L.S.), where the point of impact is visible on the starboard side.