At least fourteen migrants died in the Aegean Sea near Greece on Tuesday after their boat collided with a coast guard vessel off the island of Chios, authorities confirmed.
According to coast guard officials, a dinghy carrying migrants toward Chios—just a few miles from the Turkish coast—was spotted and ordered to turn back. “The smugglers manoeuvred toward the coast guard vessel, causing a collision,” one official told Reuters. The exact circumstances of the crash remain unverified, and the nationalities of the migrants have not been confirmed.
Two coast guard officers were injured and hospitalised, while 24 migrants were rescued. Witnesses estimated that 30 to 35 people had been on board the vessel. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, involving coast guard ships, private boats, and divers.
Greece, situated at the southeastern edge of the European Union, has long been a primary entry point for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. During the 2015–2016 migration crisis, nearly one million people arrived on Greek islands, including Chios, from Turkey.
In recent years, migrant arrivals have decreased, and Greece has tightened border controls with reinforced fences and sea patrols. However, the country has faced criticism over its treatment of migrants approaching by sea. A 2023 shipwreck, in which hundreds of migrants died, drew attention after witnesses claimed the coastguard attempted to tow their trawler.
The European Union border agency is currently reviewing 12 cases alleging possible human rights violations by Greece, including pushbacks of asylum seekers. Greek authorities deny any violations or forcible returns of migrants from their territory.
