Six dead on Lesbos: Kikilia condemns smugglers after vessel collision
Six people, including an infant, lost their lives in a collision between a high-speed smuggler's vessel and a boat of the Coast Guard south of Lesbos.
Tragedy on Lesbos: High-speed smuggler's boat collides with Coast Guard patrol vessel
Six people, including an infant, lost their lives in the sea area south of Agielia, on Lesbos, following a collision between a high-speed vessel and a patrol boat of the Coast Guard. The incident occurred on the evening of 18 October 2026.
According to In.gr, the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilia, expressed sorrow and anger over the incident, attributing responsibility to migrant trafficking networks. "The tragedy that unfolded last night in the sea area of Lesbos fills us with sorrow and anger," he stated characteristically.
Based on information available so far, the high-speed vessel of the alleged smuggler struck the patrol boat of the Coast Guard with its bow on the left side. Kikilia clarified, however, that the exact circumstances of the collision continue to be investigated by the authorities.
The minister directed a stern message to the trafficking networks: "Our stance is non-negotiable: zero tolerance for smugglers. To these vile criminals who, in order to enrich themselves, do not hesitate to drive desperate people, families and innocent children even to their death."
Source: In.gr