23-6-2023 (ISLAMABAD) Recent data shared by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reveals that at least 209 Pakistani nationals were among the passengers on an overloaded boat that tragically capsized and sank in the open seas off Greece last week. The information, provided by families who reported their missing relatives, sheds light on the extent of the human toll, according to a report by Reuters on Thursday (Jun 22).
The official death toll from the incident remains at 82, with 104 survivors accounted for, including 12 Pakistanis. The FIA, responsible for investigating the tragedy, has initiated efforts to verify the reported figure of 209 missing Pakistani nationals, as stated by Rana Abdul Jabbar, FIA Islamabad Zone Director, in an interview with Reuters.
This maritime disaster, considered one of the worst in the region in years, involved hundreds of individuals from various countries. While Pakistan has yet to officially confirm the number of its citizens on board, the government has commenced a DNA sampling campaign to assist Greece in identifying the deceased.
Data shared by the FIA reveals that 181 individuals were from Pakistan, with an additional 28 from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Authorities have collected DNA samples from 201 families as part of the identification process.
Eyewitness testimonies indicate that the overcrowded fishing boat, measuring approximately 20-30 meters in length, was carrying between 400 and 750 passengers. The vessel capsized and sank in the early hours of June 14, about 80 kilometers off the southern coastal town of Pylos.
To date, the FIA has arrested 29 individuals suspected of involvement in human smuggling in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, Greece has pressed charges against nine Egyptian men believed to be connected to the shipwreck, marking it as the deadliest incident in the Mediterranean Sea this year. The accused individuals are currently in detention pending trial and have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
