Fifteen people were reported dead following a serious incident at sea off Chios on Tuesday evening, 3 February, during an operation to locate a boat carrying migrants.
According to the initial information available, a coastguard patrol vessel located the boat near the shore. Early accounts attributed the collision and people falling into the sea to a dangerous manoeuvre by those operating the boat, described in those reports as smugglers.
The provisional toll was twelve men and three women dead. Others were injured, and searches continued amid reports of missing people.
A NOTAM was issued for the area as the maritime search developed.
Hospital and ambulance services mobilised
The national ambulance service deployed five ambulances on the island.
Twenty-five rescued people, including a pregnant woman, and two coastguard officers had been taken to Chios Hospital at the time of the report.
Figures carried by the Athens News Agency described the injured survivors as seven men, seven women and eleven children, with four in a serious condition.
Chios Mayor Giannis Malafis told MEGA that medical staff had been fully mobilised and emergency operations were being arranged for the most seriously injured.
Initial accounts of the incident
Early reports said a patrol vessel operating from Oinousses located the boat and apparently signalled for it to move away or turn back.
The people operating the boat were then reported to have moved towards the patrol vessel, resulting in a collision and people falling into the water near Myrsinidi.
There were also reports of a possible exchange of gunfire. At the time of publication, these had neither been officially confirmed nor denied.
Search and investigation
Aircraft were involved in the continuing search. A Hellenic Air Force Super Puma helicopter was also reported to be assisting, using thermal cameras to look for survivors.
The circumstances of the incident and the identities of those involved were being examined, with services from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs participating.
