Legal sources confirmed on Thursday that a Greek prosecutor had extended charges against four additional senior coast guard officers in connection with one of the Mediterranean’s worst accidents: a shipwreck from 2023, which saw hundreds of people drown off the southwest town of Pylos.

Sources say that the charges are the result of an appeal from lawyers for the victims.

The shipwreck in international waters of the overloaded migrant vessel Adriana on June 14, 2023 sent shockwaves throughout Europe. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated by a Greek naval court.

The Coast Guard has denied wrongdoing in the handling of this case.

Only 104 of 750 passengers are known to have survived

The boat was under the watch of a coast guard vessel for 15 hours prior to its sinking. The boat was estimated to have had 750 passengers on board when it left Libya for Italy. Only 104 people are known to be alive.

The Naval Court charged 17 Coast Guard officers in May on charges ranging from obstruction of transport to causing a shipwreck or helping to cause one, and exposing people to mortal danger.

Lawyers who represent survivors and victims from the Pylos shipwreck have welcomed the decision. They also welcomed the referral of the case to a main investigation based on felony charges.

SURVIVORS & VICTIMS FILE APPEAL

Sources said that the officers filed an appeal requesting criminal charges to be brought against four additional officers, including the chief of the Greek Coast Guard, alleging they were also involved with the handling of the incident.

A coastguard spokesperson failed to respond to an inquiry for comment.

The prosecutor has accepted their appeal, bringing the number of those charged to 21. Legal sources stated that they were expecting to be summoned to court by a judge in order to answer the charges. (Editing Conor Humphries).

(source: Reuters)