For the second consecutive day, air and sea search operations are in full progress in the area of the tragedy off the coast of Chios, where a boat carrying migrants and a Coast Guard patrol vessel collided violently. Hellenic Air Force helicopters and naval vessels are “sweeping” the sea area with the goal of locating possible survivors. A Super Puma helicopter is also participating in the operations, utilizing thermal cameras to detect missing persons at sea.
A total of 22 people are being treated at Chios Hospital, including women and minors. Of the 25 injured who have received medical care, 10 are children up to 15 years old and remain in the pediatric clinic. The condition of a 13-year-old is described as particularly serious, having undergone hours-long surgery due to multiple injuries. Meanwhile, two pregnant women are hospitalized out of danger, however, they lost the embryos they were carrying.
Why thermal cameras were not used
At the same time, Coast Guard sources provide explanations regarding the non-use of thermal cameras during the fatal collision, which cost the lives of 15 people. The Sworn Administrative Investigation ordered by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs is ongoing, while the smuggler has already been arrested and searches for missing persons continue.
According to Coast Guard information, the vessel involved in the incident is equipped with thermal cameras (electro-optical sensors), which function as auxiliary to radar for detecting floating targets. As the same sources report, the captain judged that there was no need to activate it, as the speedboat with migrants had already been detected both by surveillance cameras on land and visually using searchlights.
How the Chios tragedy with 15 dead migrants occurred
The speedboat was spotted during a scheduled patrol moving without lights towards the eastern shores of Chios. The boat operator did not respond to the light and sound signals from the Coast Guard vessel. Instead, he changed course abruptly, resulting in the speedboat crashing into the right side of the Coast Guard vessel.
Due to the force of the impact, the speedboat capsized and sank immediately, causing all passengers to fall into the sea. The tragedy resulted in the death of 15 people.
Administrative investigation into the deadly incident
Following the prosecutor’s order, the Moroccan national suspected of being responsible for smuggling the boat was arrested. The rescued refugees and migrants testified that this particular man was the smuggler of the boat that collided with the Coast Guard vessel on the evening of February 3rd off Chios.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs ordered a sworn administrative investigation to accurately examine the causes of the collision. The investigation is being conducted by senior Coast Guard officials, who will take statements from the coast guard personnel involved in the incident. Additionally, a special crisis management protocol has been implemented. A team of four forensic doctors and three morticians is traveling to Chios to coordinate the forensic investigation, while a preliminary investigation into the shipwreck is being conducted by the Central Port Authority of Chios.
Deputy regional governor of Chios to parapolitika.gr: “The boat with migrants developed high speed despite Coast Guard warnings”
The deputy regional governor of Chios, Pantelis Vourlis, through his descriptions to parapolitika.gr focuses on the minutes before the drama as well as the existing situation.
Regarding the latest development, the Moroccan who was recognized as a smuggler and arrested, Mr. Vourlis emphasizes that an entire network may be behind the transport of the Afghans. At this moment, as he points out, tensions have decreased as the case begins to unravel and investigations will show the real causes behind the accident.
The deputy regional governor of Chios does not fail to emphasize, referring to the moment of the accident, that the smuggling boat developed high speed despite Coast Guard warnings, something that certifies the fatal moves that led to the accident. It was the moment when the boat with migrants rammed into the Coast Guard vessel, causing the death of 15 people. The deputy regional governor of Chios also focuses on the fact that there were women and children inside the boat carrying the Afghans, with anxiety remaining for the health condition of those hospitalized.
