15 dead as migrant speedboat and coastguard vessel collide | World | News

Patrol boats and divers were deployed while a helicopter surveyed the area from above. Authorities confirmed that the bodies of 14 people, 11 men and 3 women, were recovered from the water. mirror reports.

In addition to the two coast guard officers injured in the incident, 25 more immigrants, including approximately 11 children, were rescued and taken to a hospital in Chios.

The coast guard added that one of the injured women later died in hospital.

The Greek coast guard stated that it was unclear how many people were on the speedboat and accelerated search and rescue operations to find passengers who might be missing.

Footage published by a local news outlet showed at least one person being carried with a blanket from a coast guard boat anchored near the pier to a waiting coast guard vehicle with blue flashing lights, while others guided two children towards the car.

There is no further information on how exactly the collision occurred.

Michalis Giannakos, head of the Greek public hospital workers’ union, said hospital staff on Chios were alert to a sudden influx of injured people and were on standby for potentially more.

Mr Giannakos said on Greece’s Open TV channel that many of the injured required surgery.