Eight refugees and migrants drowned near Rhodes Island in the Aegean Sea when their speedboat capsized while being pursued by the Greek Coast Guard. Authorities stated the driver lost control during the chase, causing many passengers to fall overboard.
The coast guard rescued 18 people and recovered 8 bodies. A helicopter continues to search for additional survivors, though the total number of passengers remains unknown. The incident occurred near Afandou beach, where the boat was reportedly attempting to disembark its passengers.
Greek media outlet Kathimerini reported that the boat collided with a coast guard patrol vessel, leading to the driver’s arrest.
The tragedy adds to a series of deadly incidents involving migrants in Greek waters. At the end of last month, 9 people, including 6 children, drowned in two separate accidents near Lesbos and Samos Islands. Earlier in December, 5 others died near Crete.
Migrant arrivals in Greece have surged by 25%, with Rhodes and the southeastern Aegean region seeing a 30% increase, according to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Greece’s coast guard has faced accusations from humanitarian organizations of intentionally endangering migrants by capsizing vessels or preventing disembarkation. The EU has also documented human rights abuses, including allegations of sexual violence against children, at EU-funded refugee camps on the Aegean Islands.
This latest incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by refugees and migrants in the region and raises questions about border enforcement practices.
