Six foreign nationals, including an infant, were recovered dead from the waters south of Agrilia, Lesbos, following a collision between a speedboat carrying the foreign nationals and a Coast Guard patrol boat.
According to the Coast Guard, the incident occurred during a pursuit, when the speedboat was maneuvering in an attempt to escape, resulting in a collision with the bow on the left side of the Coast Guard vessel.
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As a result of the collision, some of the passengers reportedly fell into the sea, while eight others were rescued.
The incident occurred 3.5 nautical miles south of Agrilia, Lesbos.
A search and rescue operation was immediately launched under the coordination of the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED).
During the operation, eight people were rescued— four men, two women, and two children, while the bodies of six additional foreign nationals—four men, one woman, and one infant—were recovered from the sea.
The eight survivors were transported to the port of Mytilene and then to the Mytilene General Hospital to receive medical care.
According to statements made by the survivors to port authorities, no one is missing.
The operation involved one offshore vessel, one coastal patrol boat, three Coast Guard patrol boats, and a Hellenic Air Force helicopter, while a private vessel from the Hellenic Rescue Team also headed to the area.
Meanwhile, as part of the preliminary investigation, a 37-year-old Turkish national—who was among those rescued and is alleged to be the smuggler of the other foreign nationals—was identified and arrested.
The circumstances surrounding the collision are being investigated by the relevant port authorities.
The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, expressed his sorrow and outrage over the tragedy in a post on Platform X.
“The tragedy that unfolded last night in the waters off Lesbos fills us with grief and outrage,” the minister said, attributing the deaths of the six people to the criminal actions of the smugglers.
Referring to the circumstances of the incident, Mr. Kikilias noted that, according to the information available so far, the speedboat of the alleged smuggler struck the left side of the Coast Guard patrol boat with its bow, clarifying that the exact circumstances of the collision are still under investigation.
At the same time, the minister sent a stern message to migrant smuggling rings, emphasizing that the government’s stance remains non-negotiable.
“Zero tolerance for traffickers,” he emphatically stated, referring to “ruthless criminals who, in order to line their own pockets, do not hesitate to drive desperate people, families, and innocent children to their deaths.”
Source: APE-MPE
