A devastating incident unfolded off the eastern coast of Chios island in Greece’s Aegean Sea when a high-speed boat carrying migrants collided with a Greek Coast Guard patrol vessel, resulting in at least 15 deaths.
The collision happened during a standard night patrol. Coast guard officers spotted the migrant vessel traveling without lights and attempted to signal it to stop using visual and audible warnings. Instead, the boat reversed direction sharply, striking the patrol ship’s side and causing it to overturn and sink rapidly. Everyone on board ended up in the water.
Rescue efforts pulled 26 people from the sea, but many required hospital treatment, including 11 children and two coast guard members with injuries. Searches continued into the following day for possible additional survivors, though hopes faded quickly in the cold waters.
Hospital officials on Chios confirmed the deaths involved 11 men and four women among the migrants, with no evidence of gunfire. Causes appeared tied directly to the impact and drowning. The exact origins of those on board remained unclear, as authorities focused on recovery and care for the wounded.
This rare direct clash highlights persistent risks along one of Europe’s key migrant sea paths. While crossings through the eastern Aegean have dropped sharply in recent years due to stricter controls and cooperation with Turkish forces, dangerous journeys continue, often in overcrowded or unseaworthy crafts.
Greece has adopted tougher migration measures, including paused asylum processing and plans for new detention facilities. Many arrivals now target Crete instead of the closer eastern islands like Chios, reflecting shifts in smuggling patterns.
Quick Summary
At least 15 migrants died and 26 were injured after their speedboat collided with a Greek Coast Guard vessel off Chios on February 4, 2026, causing it to capsize. The coast guard had signaled the unlit boat to stop before the crash; rescues followed, with ongoing searches amid Europe’s evolving migrant route challenges.