Tourist boat, speedboat collision off Aegina leaves 3 dead
A collision between a speedboat and a tourist vessel off the Saronic Gulf island of Aegina near the Greek capital Tuesday left at least three people dead and injured another four, the country's coast guard said.
There were believed to have been about 15-20 people on board the tourist boat, which was transporting people from a village on the southwestern tip of Aegina to a beach on the nearby deserted islet of Moni, the coast guard said. It was unclear how many people were on the speedboat or what the nationalities were of those on the tourist boat.
Three bodies were recovered from the water while a number of people were rescued, the coast guard said. Authorities said details of how the accident occurred and precise numbers of those rescued were initially unclear as rescue efforts focused on locating survivors.
Two coast guard patrol boats and a helicopter were conducting a search and rescue operation, while private boats were assisting in the efforts.
Aegina's proximity to the Greek capital makes it a popular destination for Greeks and foreign tourists. Small tourist boats ferry holiday-makers from the island's port village of Perdika to Moni, an islet inhabited by deer and peacocks, and which features a popular sandy cove. [AP]
