Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 16 November 2022

Case name: 2022_11_16_Eastern Med_1064

Situation: 11 people rescued to Kos, 1 person died

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Eastern Med / Aegean Sea

Summary of the Case: In the evening of the 16th of November, the Alarm Phone was alerted to a sinking boat near the Island of Kos. We immediately called JRCC Piraeus at 21.22 CET, to alert them to the sinking boat, providing them with the position over the phone. As soon as we finished speaking with them, we also send an email with details of the distress situation to the Greek authorities. We then called the port authority in Kos and also provided them with the boat’s position and informed them an urgent rescue is needed. During this time, we did not manage to make direct contact with the people on board the sinking boat. We continued to try to make contact, and in the meantime called the police station in Kos but no one answered the phone. Over the next two hours, we continued to call JRCC Piraeus, the port authority in Kos, and the Press Office of the Hellenic Coast Guard to try and get an update and confirm a rescue mission is underway. At 23.41 CET, we received confirmation from the Press Office that the group had been rescued, and that 10 people were taken to the camp. One person was unconscious and was transferred to the hospital, they were unable to provide any more information about the seriousness of this person’s condition. The next morning, we called the port authority in Kos, who informed us that the person who was taken to the hospital had tragically passed away.

We tweet about the case on the 17th of November:

https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1593197751290167298

"Yesterday evening we were informed about a sinking boat near #Kos. We immediately alerted #Greek authorities, who launched a rescue operation. For one passenger, help came too late - we learned today that one person passed away after being brought to the hospital."
"We mourn this death in the #Aegean Sea and send strength to all survivors and relatives. People should not be forced to sail in the dark and to take such risks on their journey. #BordersKill"