[SOOC]
An inflatable speedboat with 26 migrants crashed during a chase by the Hellenic Coast Guard off Rhodes Friday, killing eight and seriously injuring three in the second fatal incident involving migrants within a week.
The boat, departing Turkey, tried to evade capture with dangerous maneuvers, reaching speeds of over 30 knots. As the coast guard signaled for it to stop, it collided with their vessel under unclear circumstances.
Rescuers saved 18 people, eight of whom sustained injuries. The victims, all Afghan nationals, included a child.
Two Turkish smugglers, aged 19 and 23, were arrested and are under investigation. Authorities are probing whether they were under the influence of substances.
Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides condemned the smugglers, calling the loss of lives “sacrificed for profit.”
The tragedy follows a deadly shipwreck near Gavdos last week that claimed seven lives, with 30 still missing. The coast guard faces mounting scrutiny after several migrant-related incidents, including fatal shootings and a similar crash in September.
The recent use of speedboats by smugglers for faster transit across the Aegean poses new risks.