Collision with Coast Guard patrol
Fifteen migrants died after a Chios shipwreck on Tuesday night (3 February) in the Myrsinidi sea area. A fast inflatable boat carrying migrants collided with a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel during a confrontation with smugglers.
Eleven men and four women drowned, and two unborn babies died after the mothers, who were injured, were taken to Chios General Hospital.
How the incident unfolded
The Coast Guard vessel, which departed from Oinousses, spotted the fast inflatable boat and signalled it to change course. The smugglers moved toward the patrol vessel, causing a collision that threw migrants into the sea.
Emergency services immediately sent five ambulances. They transferred 24 irregular migrants to hospital, including seven children and two pregnant women. Two Coast Guard officers also received medical attention. Four crew members were on the patrol vessel during the incident.
Serious injuries at hospital
Doctors treated four migrants with severe injuries. One woman later died. Medical teams reported liver rupture, pneumothorax, kidney and spleen rupture, and traumatic brain injuries. Three migrants underwent surgery for major organ damage, while the others moved to wards. The remaining injured migrants and Coast Guard officers are in stable condition.
The Hellenic Coast Guard reported seven male, seven female, and 11 child injuries.
Authorities investigate
The Coast Guard will transfer 14 bodies to Chios General Hospital. The authorities confirmed the unborn babies did not survive.
Chios mayor Giannis Malafis said all available doctors worked immediately to perform urgent surgeries.
The Coast Guard confirmed that one of the 25 rescued migrants died, bringing the total fatalities to 15. Authorities continue the investigation into the incident.
Search and rescue continues
Coast Guard units and the Hellenic Air Force launched a search for possible survivors. A Super Puma helicopter equipped with thermal cameras scanned the area.
The authorities maintain strict control over the incident site. Units from neighbouring islands and the Ministry of Shipping’s intelligence service assist with identifying those involved and determining the circumstances of the collision.
Read the statement from Hellenic Coast Guard:
“Last night, an inflatable patrol boat of the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG), conducting a scheduled patrol, spotted a fast inflatable boat (FIB) carrying foreign nationals moving without navigation lights towards the eastern coast of Chios, in the Myrsinidi area. The FIB operator did not comply with the visual and sound signals of the patrol boat; instead, he reversed course, resulting in the FIB colliding with the starboard side of the patrol boat. Due to the severity of the collision, the FIB capsized and sank, causing all passengers to fall into the sea.
Under the coordination of the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (USARCC) of the HCG, a search and rescue operation was immediately launched. Four Coast Guard patrol boats and one private boat with civilian divers participated. Two Hellenic Air Force helicopters also took part in the operation.
A total of twenty-five (25) foreign nationals (7 men, 7 women, and 11 minors) were rescued by a Coast Guard vessel, injured, and transferred to the port, from where they were transported to Skylitseio Hospital. Subsequently, one of the women passed away. Two members of the Coast Guard crew (1 man and 1 woman) were also transported to the hospital.
The male coast guard officer has already been discharged, while the female remains hospitalised for further examination. During the search, two Coast Guard patrol boats recovered a total of 14 bodies (11 men and 3 women). The bodies were transported to the port and then to Skylitseio Hospital for autopsy. In total, there are fifteen (15) deceased.
The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Central Port Authority of Chios. Searches to locate possible missing foreign nationals continue with five (5) Coast Guard patrol boats, and a Coast Guard helicopter has been deployed.”
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