Athens, Greece – Autopsy results seen by Reuters show that most of the 15 Afghan migrants who died when their boat collided with a Greek coast guard vessel off the island of Chios last week died from severe head injuries, not from drowning as initially believed.
The incident occurred on February 3 when a coast guard patrol boat collided with a rubber dinghy carrying about 39 migrants, causing it to capsize. It is one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in Greece in recent years, and a criminal investigation has been launched.
According to court documents, the cause of death in most cases was “severe head and brain injuries.” Other reports indicated chest injuries, while one document stated that the deaths resulted from “head and brain injuries followed by drowning.”
The Greek coast guard stated that the boat was traveling without navigation lights and ignored warnings to stop. They added that the boat suddenly changed course and collided with the patrol vessel, causing its passengers to fall into the sea. However, Reuters reported testimonies from five survivors that contradicted the official account. They asserted that no prior warnings were given and denied that the boat changed course before the collision.
Photos taken after the incident showed minor scratches on the coast guard vessel. The collision resulted in injuries to three crew members and 24 migrants.
The autopsy results are expected to guide the investigation, particularly regarding the force and nature of the impact. This comes amidst calls from human rights organizations for a full investigation into the incident and for transparency in handling the migrant crisis.
