A damning audio recording has revealed that Greek authorities failed to adequately respond to a migrant boat disaster in June 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 700 people, including hundreds of Pakistanis. The incident, involving the Adriana, a vessel that capsized in international waters within Greece’s rescue zone, has sparked renewed scrutiny of the country’s handling of migrant crises.
According to a BBC News report, the leaked audio captures Greek rescue officials instructing the captain of the Adriana to inform an approaching ship that the migrants onboard did not wish to reach Greece. The recordings, obtained by Greek website News247.gr, show that during a call at 6:50 PM local time on June 13, a rescue officer told the captain that a red vessel would soon approach to provide supplies. The officer emphasized that the migrants should be portrayed as unwilling to seek refuge in Greece. A second call at 10:10 PM further reinforced this narrative, with an officer instructing the captain of the Lucky Sailor, the “big red ship,” to document that the migrants intended to travel to Italy instead.
The BBC previously reported that the boat capsized as Greek rescuers attempted to tow it using a rope. Survivors have also alleged that Greek coastguard officials pressured them to identify nine Egyptians on board as traffickers. Greek authorities have denied these claims, maintaining that they did not attempt a rescue because the migrants allegedly wanted to reach Italy, not Greece.
Usman Siddique, a 30-year-old Pakistani survivor and police officer from Gujrat, corroborated these accounts. Siddique, who had taken a year’s leave to journey to Europe, recounted that a helicopter photographed the overcrowded boat hours before it sank but left without offering assistance. A cargo ship later provided water and bread but departed after an hour. Siddique described how a Greek coastguard vessel arrived late in the evening but ignored pleas for help from the migrants, particularly women and children. Another ship attempted to tow the boat, but the maneuver caused it to capsize, leading to chaos and mass drownings. Siddique, who survived due to his swimming skills acquired during police training, estimated that around 100 people were rescued by a subsequent vessel.
The tragedy claimed the lives of hundreds, with the United Nations estimating approximately 500 fatalities. Most of the victims were Pakistanis from regions such as Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, and Azad Kashmir. The incident has raised serious questions about Greece’s adherence to international maritime rescue protocols and its treatment of migrants attempting perilous journeys to Europe.
As investigations continue, the leaked audio has intensified calls for accountability and transparency in how such humanitarian crises are managed. The revelations underscore the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
