Beyond Titan: What Should You Know About Greece Shipwreck Tragedy

In what has developed into one of Europe's biggest shipping tragedies in recent years, at least 79 migrants tragically drowned a couple of weeks ago, with hundreds more suspected to be dead or missing after their heavily overloaded boat capsized and sank in the open seas off Greece.

The captivating and unreal story of billionaires and multimillionaires trapped on a submersible while exploring the Titanic wreckage has dominated headlines and captured the world's attention. The vessel, aptly named the Titan, has sparked an obsession as people follow every minute detail of the recovery efforts. However, amidst this frenzy, there is a striking disparity in the attention given to recent maritime tragedies.

Just two weeks ago, one of the most devastating incidents in the Mediterranean Sea unfolded—a fishing boat carrying approximately 750 migrants, primarily from Pakistan and Afghanistan, capsized en route to Italy. Shockingly, there were 100 children onboard the ill-fated vessel. The exact number of fatalities remains unclear, but the confirmed death toll stands at 79, with up to 500 people still missing, as reported by Reuters. 

Despite these heart-wrenching numbers, the coverage and empathy directed towards this tragedy pale in comparison to Titan's disappearance. By midday, only 104 individuals had been rescued. According to a media report, the ill-fated boat departed from Libya.

The discrepancy between the rescue efforts is equally stark. The Greek coastguard and government officials, in defense of their handling of the disaster, claim that those on board refused assistance. Activists, however, maintain that the people onboard were pleading for help over 15 hours before the boat sank. 

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Aerial images released by the coast guard depicted dozens of people on both the upper and lower decks, reaching out with outstretched arms.

Hours later, the boat began to sway before capsizing around 2 am on Wednesday and eventually sinking, according to a government official.

Survivors were transported to the Greek port of Kalamata near Pylos. Covered in blankets, they found temporary respite on mattresses at a warehouse shelter, with the migration ministry planning to relocate them to a camp outside Athens.

This shipwreck represents the deadliest incident off Greece in several years. In February, however, 96 individuals lost their lives when their wooden boat crashed into rocks on Italy's stormy Calabrian coast.

Given the gravity of the situation, Greece's caretaker administration, governing between the inconclusive election on May 21 and the upcoming elections on June 25, has declared three days of national mourning.

The Greek shipwreck represents one of the most tragic incidents in the Mediterranean, a region that has become a mass grave for thousands seeking a better life. Each year, tens of thousands of individuals escape poverty and persecution, only to meet their demise during the perilous journey. Since 2014, approximately 25,000 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, with over 1,200 deaths recorded in 2022 alone, as per the United Nations.

According to United Nations data, approximately 72,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe's Mediterranean countries this year, with the majority disembarking in Italy and around 6,500 arriving in Greece.

Tragically, nearly 1,000 people have been reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean in 2023, as per the United Nations' estimates.

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