Greek coastguard accused of migrant boat pushback in Aegean Sea, NGO says

Published on 07/05/2026 - 15:53 GMT+2

One idiosyncratic has died and 43 were rescued erstwhile a migrant vessel got into difficulties successful the Aegean Sea, Turkish authorities said connected Thursday, portion an NGO accused the Greek coastguard of endangering the vessel.

The migrants were astir 30 kilometres from the Greek land of Lesbos erstwhile their inflatable vessel became "partially submerged" connected Wednesday, the Turkish coastguard said.

Forty-three radical were rescued by the Turkish coastguard, including 4 who were successful the water.

"The assemblage of an irregular migrant was recovered and a suspected smuggler was apprehended," the Turkish coastguard said.

The Norwegian NGO Aegean Boat Report, which helps migrants successful distress successful the Aegean Sea, said it received an exigency telephone from radical connected the inflatable accusing the Greek coastguard of damaging the vessel.

"The radical told america they had been violently pushed backmost by the Hellenic Coastguard," Aegean Boat Report said successful a statement.

"According to the survivors, the coastguard destroyed the engine, damaged the rubber vessel during the attack, and near them helplessly drifting astatine oversea portion the vessel started taking successful water.

The NGO documents amerciable pushbacks blamed connected the Greek coastguard, allegations that Greece denies.

In February, 15 migrants were killed successful a collision betwixt a tiny vessel and a Greek coastguard patrol vessel disconnected the land of Chios, conscionable a abbreviated region from the Turkish coast.

At slightest 1,209 migrants person died oregon gone missing successful the Mediterranean since the opening of the year, according to the International Organisation for Migration.