Eight bodies have been recovered and eighteen people rescued after they fell into the sea from a speedboat carrying undocumented migrants during a chase off the eastern coast of the Aegean island of Rhodes on Friday The incident occurred in broad daylight when the coast guard detected the vessel as the human trafficker attempted to disembark the passengers near Afantou beach Authorities said the boat operator lost control while performing “dangerous maneuvers” at speeds exceeding 30 knots in an attempt to evade a pursuing coast guard vessel These erratic movements are believed to have caused the migrants to fall overboard the front of the boat reportedly collided with the side of the coast guard’s vessel Many of the rescued migrants sustained injuries from the crash and sources indicate that several of the bodies recovered showed signs of trauma with two coast guard vessels and a helicopter from the Hellenic Air Force continuing efforts to locate any remaining missing migrants It is still unclear how many passengers were on board Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident Seven migrants were killed and dozens more are feared missing after a boat partially sank south of Crete over the weekend This incident was part of four separate rescue operations in which over 200 migrants were saved which took place south of Crete near the small island of Gavdos Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Sylheti and Bengali and conversational in Urdu and Hindi either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content have been confirmed dead after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes on Friday morning which occurred near the resort area of Afantou Beach also left several others injured as Greek authorities scramble to respond to the latest tragedy in the eastern Mediterranean's ongoing migrant crisis The incident is part of a broader spike in migrant arrivals in Greece fueled by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East the coast guard reported rescuing 120 migrants in three separate incidents off various Greek islands It is a reminder of the escalating issue of illegal migration, which has now overwhelmed the European Union's ability to respond effectively the speedboat was attempting to evade a patrol vessel when it began making "dangerous maneuvers," causing the migrants aboard to fall into the sea though it remains unclear whether additional passengers are still missing Rescue operations involving three coast guard vessels and a helicopter were launched shortly after the incident with authorities continuing to search the waters The bodies of the victims were later transported to the island's port where local police and ambulance workers covered the remains with gray tarps Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides confirmed that among the dead was a child and that two of the survivors had been arrested on charges of people smuggling Eight of the survivors were taken to the hospital remains a central hub in the ongoing migrant smuggling route across the eastern Mediterranean The disaster marks the second deadly migrant-related sinking in Greece in the past week a boat partially sank south of the island of Crete That operation was one of four rescues in the region over the weekend during which more than 200 migrants were saved Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides : "Once again, the ruthless trafficking network has sacrificed eight human lives today He emphasized that the Greek government was "determined" to tackle the growing issue of illegal migration Authorities are bracing for even higher numbers as political instability in the region drives more people to attempt the perilous journey across the sea Greek officials are concerned that the number of migrants trying to reach the country will exceed 60,000 by the end of the year This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all SEARCHThe global authority in superyachting Greece needs to raise €50 billion through the sale of public assets in order to be able to reach the conditions of its bailout agreement While this is a worrying time for the country, it means that an interesting portfolio of assets will soon be auctioned off on behalf of the Greek government. If you love visiting Greece on a luxury yacht charter or on a private cruise, you may want to consider investing in the country. Here are six of the most exciting public assets that are currently up for grabs. If you are looking for a beachfront location then the two neighbouring beachfront land plots in Afantou, on the popular superyacht destination of Rhodes, could be for you. The property includes 7km of beach and an 18-hole golf course designed by Donald Harradine, which has been in operation since 1973. Picture courtesy of Yiorgos Gr/Shutterstock.com For those looking to expand their tourism portfolio, a group of hotels built as part of a nationwide programme to improve tourism infrastructure in the 1960s and 1970s, are on offer. A majority of them were built by famous Greek architects and many of have been listed as a result. Located across Greece, the properties could easily once again become the epitome of Greek chic. Picture courtesy of Panos Karas/Shutterstock.com The Greek government is holding on to 25 per cent of shares in the airport but 30 per cent of the shares are on offer. The airport, which has been operational since March 2001, is the largest in Greece and the 31st busiest in Europe. If you are a fan of golf then this 735,000m sq plot in Chalkidiki could be a great opportunity. The proposed concept for the plot includes an international standard 18-hole golf course and it is handily located just 150 meters away from the “Sani Resort” marina. The area, which is home to lush forests that reach down to the clear crystal waters, is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. Picture courtesy of Mr Green/Shutterstock.com If you are looking for a Neo Gothic gem then Castello Bibelli outside Kato Korakiana, which was once the residence of Italian Baron Luca Mimbelli, might be for you. Castello Bibelli, the shell of Castellino and three other auxiliary buildings are all offered in the lot. The property is 14km from the town of Corfu and just 6km from Gouvies Marina. Three of the 2004 Olympic venues — the Schinia Rowing Center, the Markopoulo Equestrian Centre and Galatsi Olympic Center — are all up for sale. The venues, which are being offered in a package deal, include canoe and kayak facilities, approximately 1,000 acres of equestrian facilities and the building which housed the rhythmic gymnastics and table tennis at the 2004 Games. SubscribeSign up to our newslettersSign up to BOAT International email newsletters to get the latest superyacht news Boat International Media Ltd © 2008 - 2025 Content presented under the "BOAT Presents" logo is an advertising feature and Boat International Limited has been paid to include this content The Mitsis group has set in motion an investment plan for increasing the number of its hotel capacity from 5,500 to 6,500 rooms which would render it the biggest hotel entity in Greece in terms of both rooms and beds The group has applied to Enterprise Greece to have the development of three units on Mykonos fast-tracked as a strategic investment This is a project for new five-star hotels with a total capacity of 225 rooms and 450 beds on the Cyclades island which is about to complete the acquisition of a 1.4-square kilometer plot at Afantou on Rhodes from the state privatization fund (TAIPED) expected to be sealed in the next few weeks provides for the development of another three hotels there The Mitsis group currently has 17 hotels in Greece Five of them are on Kos and another five on Rhodes Kathimerini understands that the Mitsis plans are not restricted to those six new units but also provide for the acquisition or development of more hotels opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.