The judge's ruling followed a recommendation by public prosecutor Ekaterini Tsironi for the case to be dismissed because the trawler sank outside Greek territorial waters. “The shipwreck clearly occurred in international waters and … the jurisdiction of the Greek courts cannot be established," she said. A coast guard patrol boat and passing merchant ships were near the vessel for hours but did not manage to prevent the massive loss of life. Several survivors have said the capsizing happened after the Greek coast guard attempted to tow the ship, an accusation Greek authorities deny. Pylos is the Greek town that was closest to where the trawler sank, and the shipwreck has become known by that name.

Source: Libya Today May 21, 2024 13:30 UTC