On Parapolitika 90.1 and the “Morning Departure” show with Eri Panagou, retired Admiral Nikos Spanos spoke shortly after 6:30 AM on Wednesday (4/2) about the deadly incident recorded in the maritime area off Chios, when a boat carrying migrants allegedly operated by smugglers collided with a Coast Guard patrol vessel. He initially revealed that 13 irregular migrants have currently been disembarked in Psara. “Search and rescue operations are ongoing and will not stop until every last person is found,” he emphasized.
It is recalled that 15 people lost their lives in the violent collision, 11 men and 4 women, including three children, while 26 people were injured, seven of whom are children.
As Mr. Spanos said, according to the migrants, there were at least 35 to 40 people inside their boat. “Weather conditions are mild, the only problem is the night, however, the vessels are patrolling carefully,” he said.
Regarding information about the collision, he said there is a large difference in the size of the two vessels, the dinghy carrying migrants and the Coast Guard patrol boat, however, “collision occurs very easily from high speeds,” he emphasized.
Mr. Spanos denied initial reports about gunfire that had occurred.
