A collision between a speedboat and a tourist vessel off Aegina on Tuesday afternoon left four people dead, including a five-year-old child. Another five injured, two seriously, were rushed to a hospital in Athens.
Search efforts are on to find those still missing after 21 people were pulled from the water so far, most of them Greek nationals. Aegina’s Mayor Dimitris Moutsos has been quoted as saying that more people remain missing.
The Hellenic Coast Guard received a call about the incident around 1:00 pm. They rushed to the spot after information regarding calls that 20 to 25 passengers from a speedboat were in the water off Perdika cape of Aegina island in the Saronic Gulf.
Private sail boats also rushed to the spot to help rescue the speedboat passengers.
According to the coast guard, the speedboat rammed the barge that was carrying tourists. Three people who were found aboard the speedboat have been taken to Aegina Port Authority. The owner of the speedboat was not on board and he is wanted by the coast guard.
The barge captain, a 5-year-old child and her father, aged 44, and another man yet to be identified are dead. Among the seriously injured are a 7-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man. At least 10 injured people have been taken to the Aegina hospital.
Meanwhile, coast guard divers are searching for more missing persons.
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