The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring a shipwreck incident off the coast of Kastellorizo, Greece, involving five Malaysian nationals, all of whom were successfully rescued by the Greek Coast Guard.
In a media advisory issued on Tuesday, Wisma Putra said the incident occurred on 12 May 2026 after the vessel reportedly suffered technical and navigational system failures during its voyage.
Preliminary reports indicated that the vessel struck a coral reef before sinking near the coast of the Greek island.
According to the ministry, three of the Malaysians were released by Greek authorities after completing documentation and immigration procedures.
However, two other Malaysians are currently being detained by local authorities to assist in investigations into alleged breaches of local environmental laws linked to damage to the marine ecosystem caused by the collision with the reef.
The ministry said the Embassy of Malaysia in Bucharest, Romania, is in close contact with relevant Greek authorities and is providing the necessary consular assistance to ensure the safety, welfare and legal rights of the detained Malaysians are protected throughout the legal process.
Kastellorizo is a small Greek island located in the eastern Mediterranean near the Turkish coast.
