Society News

Chios collision kills 15 migrants as a Greek coast guard boat and a speedboat meet in the dark

At least 15 migrants died after their speedboat collided with a Greek coast guard patrol boat in the Chios Strait, off the eastern Aegean island of Chios, late on Tuesday, February 3. Fourteen bodies, 11 men and three women, were recovered from the sea, and an injured woman died later in hospital, The Associated Press reported. Twenty-five people, including about 11 children, were taken to hospital, and two coast guard officers were hurt.

Sri Lanka's Ada Derana, carrying the BBC and agencies, set out the coast guard's account: a patrol boat spotted an inflatable speedboat moving without navigation lights towards the coast; it ignored light and sound signals, reversed course and struck the patrol boat's starboard side, then capsized and sank. Authorities said the speedboat had been making “dangerous manoeuvres”. Two pregnant women were to have surgery after doctors found their foetuses had no cardiac activity.

Greek outlet Proto Thema reported from Chios that none of the migrants was wearing a life jacket. Survivors said all passengers were Afghan except one Moroccan, and that, contrary to earlier reports, no shots were fired. The Central Port Authority of Chios has opened a preliminary investigation.

How each outlet framed it

• AP — the toll and the search, set against allegations of Greek pushbacks and tighter EU migration rules.
• Ada Derana — the coast guard's version step by step, and a reminder of the 2023 Pylos shipwreck.
• Proto Thema — local detail from the hospital: life jackets, nationalities and the injured officers.

Where the numbers differ: AP and Proto Thema say 25 people were rescued; Ada Derana gives both 24 and 25. AP said the total number of people aboard was unknown.