A horrifying boat tragedy unfolded off the southwestern coast of Greece, leaving nearly 500 people missing and feared drowned. The ill-fated trawler, overcrowded with an estimated 750 migrants, sank in international waters.
Two survivors, Hassan from Syria and Rana from Pakistan, have shared their harrowing experiences, revealing the desperate conditions onboard and the lack of provisions such as food and water.
Hassan, who embarked on the treacherous journey alone, disclosed that during the four-day voyage from Libya, passengers were provided with minimal food and dirty water, which had completely run out by Tuesday morning.
Among the passengers, approximately 15 individuals, including the captain, were suspected of working for the people traffickers who organized the crossing. Hassan also mentioned having to pay a fee to be moved to the deck due to difficulty breathing.
As the situation worsened, Hassan and other passengers began to believe that the captain had lost his way and could not reach Italy. Only after their complaints did the captain make a distress call on Tuesday night.
The Greek coast guard arrived during the night, but tragically, the trawler capsized, plunging Hassan and others into the water. They were eventually rescued and taken to the port of Kalamata. Seven individuals among the survivors were identified as working for the traffickers, leading to the arrest of nine suspects by Greek authorities.
The devastating boat tragedy resulted in the rescue of 104 survivors and the recovery of 78 bodies on the day of the incident.
However, with the estimated number of migrants on board ranging from 700 to 750, more than 500 people remain missing, and hopes of finding additional survivors are rapidly diminishing. Rana, a Pakistani citizen who testified, tragically lost his wife and children in the shipwreck.
The survivors’ accounts shed light on the perilous journey they embarked on and the ruthless actions of human traffickers involved in the tragedy.
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