Chios: 15 Migrants Die in Collision with Coast Guard Vessel

Blood stained the night of February 2nd, 2026, off Chios Island, where 15 migrants died during a collision with a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel under circumstances currently under investigation. According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, a severely overcrowded 8-meter inflatable speedboat carrying 39 migrants was detected by a Coast Guard patrol vessel near Chios’s eastern coastline—within Greek territorial waters. The migrant vessel was traveling without lights and failed to respond to visual and auditory signals from the Coast Guard. Its operator reportedly altered course abruptly, causing a violent collision with the starboard side of the patrol boat. As a result, 15 migrants—including 11 men and 4 women—lost their lives. A large-scale rescue operation was launched 1.5 nautical miles offshore near Myrsinidiou, saving 24 people, including 11 minors. Two of the four-member Coast Guard crew sustained injuries; one has been discharged, while the other remains hospitalized for further evaluation. The patrol vessel sustained minor damage to its starboard side. The Chios Port Authority has initiated a preliminary investigation, collecting testimonies from Coast Guard personnel and rescued migrants. Critical unanswered questions remain: Was the inflatable a single-leg smuggling vessel—abandoned mid-journey—or guided by traffickers? None of the migrants wore life jackets, and most appeared unfamiliar with maritime conditions. The incident occurred in total darkness, far offshore. While the traffickers’ 8-meter craft sank on impact, the Coast Guard’s 12-meter patrol vessel—capable of speeds exceeding 50 knots—suffered only superficial damage. Investigators must clarify precise collision dynamics, human factors, and accountability.