Full Article (~3-Minute Read) Off the tranquil shores of the Aegean Sea near the Greek island of Chios, a night meant for passage and hope became a scene of sorrow and urgent rescue. In the hours after sunset Tuesday, a small speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel, leaving at least fifteen people dead and others injured as authorities and rescuers combed the waters.
According to the Greek coast guard, fourteen bodies were recovered from the sea late Tuesday night — eleven men and three women — while a woman who had been pulled from the water later died in hospital, bringing the confirmed death toll to fifteen.
Rescue operations quickly mobilized, involving several patrol boats, a helicopter, and divers searching for potentially missing people amid the cool waters. Twenty-five migrants, including about eleven children, were rescued and transported to a hospital on Chios, where medical staff treated injuries ranging from shock to more serious trauma.
Two coast guard officers were also injured in the incident and received medical care, officials said. Video from local media showed responders assisting survivors, with people wrapped in blankets and guided toward waiting emergency vehicles under flashing lights.
At this stage, authorities have not released a full passenger list from the speedboat, and it remains unclear how many people were aboard or the exact circumstances that led to the collision. Rescue teams continued their search into Wednesday, maintaining efforts to locate any individuals still unaccounted for.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by migrants making perilous sea crossings in search of safety and better opportunities. The waters between Turkey and the Greek islands have long been a route for people fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability, even as authorities seek to manage and patrol these crossings.
In the wake of the collision, local officials and humanitarian responders worked throughout the night and early morning to bring survivors to shore and attend to those in need of urgent care. Families separated by waves and hardship now await news of loved ones, their anxiety mirrored by the gentle undulation of the sea that bore witness to both tragedy and resilience.
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