Greek coast guard boat camera was not operating during deadly Sakız (Chios) incident
Investigations are intensifying into a deadly maritime incident off the coast of Sakız Island, where 15 migrants lost their lives after a collision between a Greek Coast Guard patrol boat and a speedboat carrying migrants two days ago. Authorities have confirmed that although the Coast Guard vessel was equipped with a camera system, it was not activated at the time of the incident.
According to official information, the patrol boat had an onboard camera capable of recording operations, but it was not operating during the collision. As a result, no visual footage exists documenting the circumstances of the crash.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and has sparked renewed scrutiny over Coast Guard procedures during migrant interception operations in the Aegean Sea.
Authorities are focusing their investigation on the suspected smuggler piloting the speedboat, who is believed to be among the survivors. The individual is reported to be a Moroccan national and is being treated as the prime suspect in the case. Most of the rescued migrants are said to be Afghan nationals.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the person operating the speedboat was speaking Arabic, but his face could not be clearly identified as he was wearing a hood.
Conflicting Testimonies From Survivors
Surviving migrants were questioned by Coast Guard personnel, producing conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the collision.
Some survivors claimed that the Coast Guard vessel shone a searchlight toward their boat, after which the smuggler’s speedboat collided with the patrol vessel. Others stated they did not see what happened, saying only that they suddenly found themselves in the water following a violent impact.
In contrast, the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters stated that the smuggling boat made a sudden sharp turn to the left, striking the right side of the Coast Guard vessel. This version of events was reiterated in an official statement released on Wednesday morning.
According to Coast Guard officials, the migrant speedboat was powered by an engine of approximately 300 horsepower and was traveling at more than 20 knots at the time of the collision. Authorities claimed that the vessel ignored repeated warnings and signals before crashing into the patrol boat and subsequently sinking.
Administrative Investigation Ordered
Following questions about whether the incident had been recorded, officials acknowledged that the patrol boat’s camera system existed but had not been activated by the crew.
Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Vasilis Kikilias, has ordered a formal administrative investigation into the incident. The probe will not be conducted by the North Aegean Regional Command but instead by an inspector from the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters, underscoring the seriousness of the case.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over transparency, accountability, and operational protocols in migrant rescue and interception operations in the eastern Aegean.
