Greek Coast Guard Rescues 18 Migrants, Recovers 8 Bodies After Collision Near Rhodes

The Greek Coast Guard reported on Friday that it had recovered the bodies of eight migrants who drowned after their speedboat collided with a coast guard vessel near the island of Rhodes early this morning.

According to a statement from the Coast Guard, 18 people have been rescued so far, many of whom were injured, and search operations in the area are still ongoing.

A Coast Guard official confirmed that the migrant boat, which was traveling at high speed, collided with the Coast Guard ship as it attempted to evade capture. The captain of the boat has been arrested.

Greece, located at the southern edge of the European Union, has long been a key entry point for migrants and refugees coming from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In 2015, nearly one million people arrived on its islands, marking a significant chapter in the European migration crisis.