At least 4 migrants dead in speedboat collision with Coast Guard vessel

A Coast Guard vessel collided with a speedboat carrying migrants Tuesday night off the island of Chios killing 14, authorities say. A coast Guard spokeswoman told Kathimerini another 25 migrants have been rescued. Local media report there are several chilkdren among them. The National Emergency Aid Center (EKAV) said a pregnant woman was among the rescued. A search and rescue operation is ongoing. Four Coast Guard Ships, a private vessel and an Air Force helicopter are taking part. Coast Guard officers told Kathimerini that the speedboat attempted to disembark an estimated 30-35 migrants at Myrsinidi Beach, close to the island’s capital. The speedboat had sailed from the nearby Turkish coast.  The Coast Guard detected the speedboat’s presence and took after it, preventing it from getting closer to the beach. During the chase that followed, the two vessels collided. Coast Guard said two of its own officers were slightly injured. A high-ranking Ministry of Shipping official told Kathimerini that the speedboat tried to ran the Coast Guard vessel, a rigid inflatable boat.

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