A collision between a migrant speedboat and a Greek coast guard vessel off the eastern Aegean island of Chios has killed at least 15 people, with search and rescue operations continuing for potentially missing passengers.
Fourteen bodies, including 11 men and three women, were recovered from the sea following the incident late Tuesday night, while one woman died later in hospital, bringing the total death toll to at least 15. Twenty-five migrants were rescued from the water, including 11 children, and transported to Skylitseio General Hospital along with two coast guard officers injured in the collision.
The speedboat was carrying about 30 people when it collided with the patrol boat in the Mersinidi area of Chios, near the Oinousses islands. The vessel was traveling without navigation lights when it was detected by the coast guard patrol vessel. After refusing to stop despite sound and visual signals from the patrol boat crew, the speedboat changed direction before the collision occurred, causing it to capsize.
A large-scale search and rescue operation deployed four patrol boats, a helicopter, and divers to comb the area for survivors and victims. The total number of people who had been aboard the speedboat remained unclear as operations continued.
Hospital officials confirmed that 24 migrants were hospitalized following the incident, including 10 children under 15 years old. Two pregnant women were among those receiving treatment, and three migrants remained in serious condition, according to Christos Tsiahris. Three of the hospitalized migrants underwent surgery for their injuries, while one coast guard officer remained hospitalized.
Michalis Giannakos said hospital staff were placed on alert to handle the sudden influx of injured patients. “Our sorrow for the loss of 15 human lives in Chios is unspeakable,” said Vassilis Kikilias. “Modern-day smugglers, traffickers, are the enemies of the country.”
Kikilias confirmed that an investigation would be conducted with transparency and professionalism. The patrol boat showed signs of abrasion on its right side following the collision. Initial information indicated that most of the passengers aboard the speedboat were from Afghanistan.
The speedboat was believed to be operated by migrant smugglers and was equipped with a high-powered engine. A chase occurred between the coast guard vessel and the speedboat before the fatal collision took place in the eastern Aegean waters near Chios, Greece.
The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach European Union territory through Greece, which remains a major entry point for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The short crossing from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands in the eastern Aegean has proven particularly perilous, with many migrants undertaking the journey in overcrowded vessels or speedboats piloted by smugglers.
Fatal accidents during these crossings have become a common occurrence. The waters of the Mediterranean Sea represent one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors, with vessels frequently capsizing or encountering mechanical failures during the voyage. Weather conditions, overcrowding, and the use of unseaworthy boats all contribute to the high casualty rate among those attempting the crossing.
Between 2014 and the end of 2025, more than 33,000 migrants died or went missing in the Mediterranean, according to data tracking migration fatalities. The Central Mediterranean route has been identified as particularly dangerous, with hundreds of people reported missing or feared dead in recent years.
Greek authorities have increased patrols in recent years along popular migration routes, contributing to a decline in crossing attempts. Allegations of pushbacks, which involve summary deportations without allowing asylum applications, have accompanied the increased enforcement efforts. These measures, combined with heightened surveillance, have led to a reduction in migrant arrivals to the Aegean islands in recent months.
Greece, along with several other European Union countries, has been tightening migration regulations in recent years. The debate over migration policy has intensified across EU member states since a surge in asylum-seekers arrived in Europe a decade ago.
Public sentiment has shifted considerably, with far-right parties gaining political power in several countries on platforms emphasizing stricter border controls. EU migration policies have hardened in response, and the number of asylum-seekers reaching Europe has declined from record levels seen in previous years.
While high-speed chases involving migrant smuggling boats have occurred previously near Greek islands, officials indicated the collision off Chios represented one of the most serious incidents in recent years. The use of speedboats by smuggling operations has become more common, as these vessels can move quickly and attempt to evade patrol boats before depositing passengers on island shores and returning to Turkey.
Migrant arrivals to Chios have declined significantly in recent months. Overall migrant flows to the Aegean islands fell in 2025 compared to previous years, reflecting the combined impact of increased enforcement and shifting migration routes.
The incident occurred in the waters between Chios and the nearby Oinousses islands, an area regularly patrolled by Greek coast guard vessels monitoring for unauthorized migrant crossings from nearby Turkish waters. The proximity of the eastern Aegean islands to the Turkish coast has made them a historically popular entry point for those seeking to reach the European Union, though the short distance belies the significant dangers posed by the crossing.