New evidence have cast doubt on the Greek coastguard’s account ofWednesday’s migrant shipwreck in which hundreds including scores ofPakistanis are feared to have dies.
According to a BBC investigative report, analysis of the movement of otherships in the area suggests the overcrowded fishing vessel was not movingfor at least seven hours before it capsized.
The Greek coastguard still claims that during these hours the boat was on acourse to Italy and not in need of rescue.
Greek authorities have not yet responded to the BBC’s findings.
At least 78 people are known to have died, but the UN says up to 500 arestill missing.
The UN has called for an investigation into Greece’s handling of thedisaster, amid claims more action should have been taken earlier toinitiate a full-scale rescue attempt.
Greek officials maintain those on board said they did not want help andwere not in danger until just before their boat sank.
The BBC has obtained a computer animation of tracking data provided byMarine Traffic, a maritime analytics platform.
Their data shows hours of activity focused on a small, specific area wherethe migrant boat later sank, casting doubt on the official claim it had noproblems with its navigation.
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The fishing boat had no tracker so is not shown on the map. Neither arecoastguard and military vessels which do not have to share their location.Timeline of official coastguard account challenged
Frontex, the EU’s border force, says it first spotted the migrant boat ataround 08:00 GMT on Tuesday and informed the Greek authorities.
Alarm Phone, an emergency hotline for migrants in trouble at sea, say theyreceived a call at 12:17 GMT saying the boat was in distress.
We have used video and photographs authenticated by BBC Verify, as well ascourt records and shipping logs, to analyse the movement of vessels in thearea in the following hours.
The Marine Traffic animation shows a ship called the Lucky Sailor abruptlyturning north at 15:00 GMT.
The owner of the Lucky Sailor gave us its log book and confirmed it hadbeen asked by the Coastguard to approach the migrant boat and give food andwater.