An incident occurred yesterday in the sea area of ​​Marathousta of Symi, with a speedboat that had earlier disembarked refugees and immigrants.

According to the announcement of the Coast Guard, the speedboat driver disobeyed a signal to stop and a pursuit ensued with the boat operator making repeated dangerous maneuvers and attempts to ram the patrol car.

The Coast Guard then fired two warning shots with negative results and proceeded to fire aimed shots at the engine of the speedboat, which slowed down and made a U-turn hitting the patrol boat on the right side.

As a result of the collision, one of the crew of the speedboat was injured, who was taken to the Symi Health Center and from there he was transferred to the General Hospital of Rhodes, where he remains hospitalized.

Twenty-one (21) foreigners were found on land, who had started from Bozburun, Turkey, paying the sum of €4,500 each for their transport to Symi.

The speedboat sank.

The announcement of the Coast Guard

According to the Press Release of the Coast Guard: “At noon yesterday, patrol vessel (PLS) LS-EL.AKT. as part of a planned patrol, he spotted a speedboat (T/X) disembarking people near the bay of Marathousntas, Symi. The PLC proceeded to use light and sound signals to immobilize it, with negative results. A pursuit ensued with the operator of the T/X making repeated dangerous maneuvers and attempts to ram the patrol car. Two (02) warning shots were fired in a safe area with negative results and then two (02) targeted shots were fired at the T/X engine. The speedboat decelerated and overturned hitting the right side of the T/X, rupturing the T/X’s air chamber and immobilizing it. From the crew of the patrol vessel L.S.-EL.AKT. it was established that the foreigner needed medical treatment due to trauma and first aid was provided. He was then transferred to the Symi Health Center and from there he was transferred to the General Hospital of Rhodes, where he remains hospitalized.

At the same time, investigations were carried out from land in the area, by officials of the Port Authority, where twenty one (21) foreigners were identified and transferred to the Port Authority of Symi. The foreigners had started from Bozburun in Turkey and had paid the sum of €4,500 each for their transport to Symi. The speedboat sank. A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Central Port Authority of Symi”.