A tragic incident has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals after a speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel near the island of Chios.

The collision occurred late on Tuesday in the Chios Strait, close to the village of Vrontades. Greek authorities stated that the speedboat had been engaged in dangerous maneuvers, and a pursuit was in progress at the time of the impact.

During the incident, 24 people were rescued. Some of the survivors sustained serious injuries. Reports indicate that other individuals may still be missing.

The exact details surrounding the collision have not yet been clarified by the coastguard.

A search and rescue operation was underway Tuesday night. This operation involved four coastguard vessels, a civilian boat crewed by divers, and a helicopter.

According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, among the injured were seven children, a pregnant woman, and two coastguard officers.

Initial reports confirmed four deaths. However, an update issued at 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) revealed that ten additional bodies had been recovered, raising the confirmed death toll to 14.