A Frontex vessel capsized and sank outside the port of the island of Kastellorizo in south-eastern Greece on Monday afternoon.

According to initial information, the Frontex vessel hit a rocky reef known as Psoradia outside the port of Megisti during a maneuver, local media reported.

Six people were on board of the Estonian vessel, among them the Estonian Ambassador to Greece, four Estonian nationals and a Greek Coast Guard liaison officer.

All of the passengers fell into the sea and were picked up by a Coast Guard vessel and a private catamaran.

Four of them have been injured: two of them slightly, two reportedly seriously. According to Mega TV of the two Estonians, one has bleeding and high blood pressure, the other has fractures.

The Estonian Ambassador is reportedly slightly injured, while injured is also the Greek Coast Guard officer, a woman, who was operating as liaison officer between the Greek authorities and the Frontex.

When the Estonian -Frontex vessel ran aground, another coast guard vessel first rushed to tow it, but an explosion occurred, causing the crew on board to abandon the vessel and the vessel to sink shortly afterwards.

According to initial statements by mayor of Kastellorizo, Nikos Asvestis, the Frontex vessel had sailed from the port of Kastellorizo. ​​

“It has not been clarified whether it hit a reef, whether it hit a log floating off the harbor or whether the shipwreck was due to poor handling,” mayor Asvestis noted.

All the competent services and the Coast Guard unit based on Kastellorizo were mobilized and collected the Frontex Vessel passengers from the water.

Investigation on the causes of the accident is in full swing.

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