A Greek prosecutor has added charges against four more senior coast guard officers over the 2023 Pylos migrant shipwreck, one of the deadliest disasters in the Mediterranean in recent years. Legal sources told Reuters that the decision followed an appeal by lawyers representing survivors and families of the victims.
The shipwreck happened on June 14, 2023, when the migrant boat “Adriana,” traveling from Libya to Italy, capsized in international waters off the town of Pylos. The vessel had around 750 people on board, but only 104 survived. The huge loss of life sparked global outrage and calls for accountability from Greek authorities.
A Greek coast guard vessel had monitored the boat for more than 15 hours before it sank. The coast guard has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has rejected claims that its actions contributed to the tragedy. However, survivors and human rights groups have long argued that the authorities did not act quickly enough to save lives.
In May, a naval court charged 17 coast guard officers with serious offenses, including causing or helping to cause the shipwreck and exposing people to deadly danger. Lawyers representing the victims welcomed the charges but said key individuals had still not been held accountable.
The victims’ legal team later filed an appeal, demanding that prosecutors also charge four additional officers, including the current head of the Greek Coast Guard, arguing that they were directly involved in how the situation was handled.
The prosecutor reviewed their request and agreed to expand the charges, bringing the total number of indicted officers to 21. Each of the individuals is now expected to be called before a judge to respond to the accusations.
The Greek Coast Guard has not yet commented publicly on the new developments. The investigation remains ongoing, and the case continues to place intense scrutiny on Greece’s migration policies and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
This tragedy remains a painful reminder of the risks faced by migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings in search of safety.