Boat tragedy in Greece off Pylos: hundreds of people missing

A boat with hundreds of people on board capsized just outside Pylos, Greece. The ship was sailing from Libya towards Italy. So far, only about 100 people have been rescued, hundreds are still missing – it could be one of the deadliest shipping accidents ever.

According to the AlarmPhone project, there were 750 people on board, other sources report about 400 people. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and survivors.

Alarmphone tweet on the shipwreck Greece Pylos

Even though there is talk of shipwrecks, the reality on the Mediterranean can hardly be called a disaster. These deaths are politically desired, at least accepted.
Three operational sea rescue ships are currently stuck in Italy and are not allowed to help. Others lack funds to operate.

Instead of supporting sea rescue as promised, the German government agrees to further isolation. The reform of the Common European Asylum System will not prevent tragedies like these, but will only make routes longer and deadlier. Not fewer people will flee, but more people will die.

Nancy Faeser called the European agreement to an even stricter border regime a “historic event”. The EU will go down in history for betraying its values and letting tens of thousands of people die.

Source: Aegean Boat Report, AlarmPhone