Medical staff on Chios describe frantic efforts following deadly crash

A deadly collision between a Greek coast guard patrol boat and a migrant speedboat near the island of Chios has killed at least 15 people and left more than two dozen injured, according to Greek authorities. The Greek migrant boat collision occurred late Tuesday off the eastern coast of Chios, an island located near the Turkish mainland, prompting frantic rescue efforts and an ongoing search operation. Medical staff at local hospitals described harrowing scenes as they worked to save lives and reunite injured children with their parents.

The coast guard reported that 11 men and three women were recovered from the sea shortly after the collision, with one hospitalized woman dying hours later. Twenty-four people, including 11 children, remained hospitalized Wednesday, while coast guard vessels and a helicopter continued searching the area as the exact number of passengers on board the speedboat remained unclear. Initial reports indicated the vast majority of passengers were Afghan nationals, with one person identified as Moroccan.

Emotional Scenes at Chios Hospital

Medical personnel struggled with the sudden influx of casualties and the heartbreaking task of locating parents of injured children. Pediatrician Kirykas Zannikos became visibly emotional while describing the difficulties faced by staff, with children ranging in age from one to 15 years old. Some parents were eventually located among the injured, including one mother in intensive care.

Hospital representative Olympia Kouvara recounted the case of one baby clinging to a medical worker’s arms while staff desperately searched for the parents. The child’s mother was later identified as a patient in the surgical ward. According to doctors, injuries included broken bones, traumatic abdominal injuries, and head trauma, with three patients in serious condition in intensive care and two pregnant women suffering miscarriages.

All hospital staff, including administrative personnel, volunteered and rushed to the facility Tuesday night to assist with the emergency response. Nighttime video footage from a Chios dock showed injured people being offloaded from boats and led to waiting coast guard vehicles, including a young child limping and resisting being separated from someone wrapped in an emergency blanket.

Investigation Underway After Greek Migrant Boat Collision

Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias condemned smugglers and traffickers, calling them “enemies of the country” who put lives in mortal danger. He promised an investigation would be conducted “with transparency and professionalism,” though authorities have not confirmed all details of the incident. Greek President Constantine Tassoulas expressed grief and assured survivors of unwavering state support.

According to the coast guard statement, their patrol boat encountered the speedboat traveling toward Chios without navigation lights late Tuesday. The speedboat allegedly refused to stop despite sound and visual signals, then changed direction and collided with the patrol boat before capsizing. Photos showed abrasion marks on the patrol boat’s right side, though the coast guard’s account could not be independently verified.

Migration Context and EU Response

Greece remains a major entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with migrant crossing fatalities occurring regularly. Many undertake the short but perilous journey from Turkey to nearby Greek islands in overcrowded inflatable dinghies or speedboats piloted by smugglers. However, increased patrols and allegations of pushbacks by Greek authorities have reduced crossing attempts in recent years.

EU spokesperson Markus Lammert emphasized that every life lost at sea represents a tragedy caused by smugglers putting people at risk. In December, the European Union overhauled its migration system, including streamlining deportations and increasing detentions. Since a surge in asylum-seekers a decade ago, EU migration policies have hardened as far-right parties gained political power and public debate shifted, resulting in lower asylum-seeker numbers from record levels.

Authorities continue searching the waters off Chios while the investigation into the exact circumstances of the collision proceeds. The final death toll and number of passengers aboard the speedboat remain uncertain as rescue operations continue.