A high-speed boat chase involving migrants near the Greek island of Samos early Tuesday morning resulted in the rescue of 30 people but also the tragic loss of one life.
The incident began when the Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) monitoring station detected a speedboat carrying foreign nationals heading towards Samos' northwestern shores. A Coast Guard patrol vessel was dispatched to intercept the boat, but the operator refused to comply and attempted to flee.
During the pursuit, the speedboat's operator executed dangerous maneuvers, putting the Coast Guard crew at risk. Warning shots were fired to immobilize the boat, and the two foreign operators were arrested.
Simultaneously, 27 migrants who had been thrown into the sea by the smugglers were found onshore.
However, the search for additional individuals in the water continued. Three more migrants were rescued, but sadly, the body of a deceased male was also recovered.
A total of 30 migrants were rescued, including 15 men, 7 women, and 8 minors. The survivors and the deceased were transported to the port of Karlovasi.
The two arrested operators, identified as Turkish nationals, were recognized by the survivors as their smugglers. The Samos Port Authority is investigating the incident.
This tragic event underscores the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe, often at the mercy of unscrupulous smugglers.