Shipwreck at Pylos: Hopes fade for survivors – testimonies of survivors are shocking

For hours, hopes of finding survivors from the wreckage faded — and a woman was identified among the bodies, confirming reports that women and children had been on board.

While investigations continue, the official death toll from the shipwreck off Pylos stands at 79. The mayor of Kalamata said that 104 people aged 16-41 were rescued, including 78 men and one woman. Of particular concern is the fact that no sign of life has been found since yesterday from the hundreds of refugees and migrants aboard the fishing boat, and hopes are fading by the hour.

If the worst fears are confirmed, we are talking about 500 dead, among them women and children. The identification of a woman’s body corroborates evidence that women and children were on board, while rescuers say 100 children were on board.

There are no life jackets and other rescue equipment in the boat, which reinforces the frightening scenario.

104 survivors remain at Kalamata port, some of whom have been hospitalized. According to the information, they will be transferred to the structure of Malacca once their registration and examination is completed.

“I’m waiting for my family”

Most are shocked by what they experienced, and some are worried about their families who were on board.

Speaking to MEGA, Kostas Katsaros, director of EKAV’s 10th region, described the first moments when the rescued people arrived at the port of Kalamata.

“We got the first call at Kalamata airport to pick up four rescuers who had arrived in a Super Puma. Later, 100 people, all men, were rescued at Kalamata port.

“People were scared. We couldn’t say much. “We had a translator because many of them did not know English and it was difficult for them to communicate with them, so we could help them describe the situation to us as best they could and give them first aid,” he said.

“One man grabbed my hand and said, ‘I’m waiting for my family’. He was inside the ship. The second man asked me about his wife, nothing else,” Kostas Katsaros said.

They send photos of their relatives to doctors

Director of Cardiology Department of Kalamata Hospital and Secretary of Hospital Physicians of Messinia Manolis Makaris said 30 refugees and migrants are currently being treated at Kalamata Hospital and their condition is in a relatively good condition.

“Their problems are under control. Some people get pneumonia, some get total paralysis, some get aspiration pneumonia and various problems. Their problems are to be expected, what people have drawn. “Mainly their psychological problem is the biggest problem and what they are eagerly asking is to communicate with their relatives,” Mr. Makaris pointed out.

He described the messages he received on his mobile phone from relatives looking for people on the fishing boat as shocking. Some send him photos and ask if he has seen the relative they are looking for. At the same time, he continues to receive calls from unknown numbers from countries like Syria and Pakistan, who are worried about their fate. “They sent me the pictures” they ask “have we seen them”.

“People were shocked, we were looking at their medical problem, we tried to communicate through the mobile app, because they don’t know any language other than Arabic. In pain, if they have shortness of breath, how they feel, if they have a cold. Some people had hypothermia, but overall their condition was good. stable and controlled,” he said, adding that Arabic-speaking translators should be sent urgently to communicate with people.

Shock and confusion

For their part, a volunteer rescuer from the Hellenic Red Cross said most of those rescued were shocked and confused.

“Most of these people are confused, they’re traumatized, they’ve lost loved ones, they’ve spent days in the water, they’re struggling to travel. As the Red Cross, we don’t want to overcharge them. What we want is to take care of them physically and mentally, so that we free them as much as possible.” , so that they too can feel as good as possible in the pain they live with,” he said.

“There were enough people on board, the coast guard and the police have already been informed, unfortunately many people are trapped. The information we have is that there were many people on board, mainly women and children,” noted volunteer rescuer Dimitris of the Hellenic Red Cross.