Greece Boat Disaster: Pakistanis Had Little Chance To Survive As They Were Forced Below Deck, Says Report

In the aftermath of last Wednesday's tragic sinking of a trawler off the coast of Greece, disturbing details have emerged indicating that Pakistani nationals were specifically targeted and forced below deck, while other nationalities were given preferential treatment on the top deck, where their chances of survival were significantly higher. As the search for approximately 500 missing people continues, survivors' testimonies obtained by coastguards show that women and children were confined to the hold, ostensibly for their protection, while crew members mistreated Pakistani nationals seeking water or attempting to flee.

According to The Guardian, the lack of women and children among the survivors, as well as reports from Pakistan indicating a high number of casualties, have raised concerns about the magnitude of the tragedy.

"According to leaked testimonies given to coastguards by survivors, Pakistanis were forced below deck, while other nationalities were allowed on the top deck, where they stood a much better chance of surviving a capsize," the report said. 

According to the report, at least 298 Pakistani nationals, including 135 from the Pakistani side of Kashmir, were killed when the dilapidated trawler sank near the Peloponnese peninsula.

Although initial estimates place around 400 Pakistanis on board, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed only 12 Pakistani survivors, it said. 

The conditions on board were dire even before the boat sank, resulting in six deaths due to a lack of fresh water. The investigation into this tragic incident continues as questions about the Greek coastguard's possible involvement and alleged cover-up mount.

Greece Refugee Boat Incident: 

A fishing boat carrying 400 to 750 migrants capsized off the coast of Greece on Wednesday (June 14), as per reports. The ship was on its way from Turkey to Italy when it went down about 50 miles (80 kilometres) southwest of the southern Peloponnese peninsula, Al-Jazeera reported. 

At around 2:00 am local time, the Greek coast guard received a distress signal from the boat. The boat had already capsized by the time they arrived on the scene. 104 people were rescued and 78 bodies were recovered by the coast guard, as per the report. Hundreds of people, however, are still missing and presumed dead.

The cause of the sinking is unknown, but it is believed that the boat was overcrowded and that the passengers were not wearing life jackets. According to Al-Jazeera, survivors have said that the boat was also taking on water before it capsized.

One of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks in recent years was the Greece Boat Tragedy. It has reignited the debate over whether more should be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring.