4 dead in Greek boat collision

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS

Four people died and another six were injured when a boat carrying around 20 tourists was involved in a collision with a speedboat near the Greek island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf on Tuesday.

According to state news agency AMNA (Athens Macedonian News Agency) the first three bodies recovered were those of the vessel’s helmsman, a two-year-old toddler and a man whose identity is not yet known.

The body of the fourth victim was recovered from 20 meters’ depth in the area where the crash took place.

No details of the victims’ nationalities have yet been released.

Six people were hurt in the incident which was reported at 1.20 p.m. local time [1120 GMT]. Two people in a serious condition were airlifted to an Athens hospital.

According to preliminary reports, the boat originally departed from Perdika on Greece’s western coast with 20 tourists on board, headed for the Saronic islet of Moni.

The Coast Guard, fishing boats and other speedboats had rushed to the area. An investigation is underway.

The owner of the speedboat was arrested and is being questioned by the Greek Coast Guard.