Monday , February 10 2025
Home / News / Politics / Refugees / 57 migrants rescued, 4 die after boat sinks south of Crete; SAR continues

57 migrants rescued, 4 die after boat sinks south of Crete; SAR continues

An search and rescue operation by air and sea for survivors of a migrant boat sinking was under way still on Tuesday off the southern Greek island of Crete.

So far, 57 people have been rescued, so far, while the rescue operation continues in search of missing boat passengers.

4 passengers, two boys aged 6 and 7 and two women, are dead, authorities said.

The weather conditions are tough with winds blowing with intensity of 6-7 Beaufort.

According to media, port authorities and rescuers do not know how many people were on board as the survivors are in shock, cannot give useful information or describe what exactly happened.

Greece’s coast guard said 16 people were reported to have been on the vessel that sank about 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Crete amid high winds Monday.

Authorities were notified via emergency line <112> by a person who said they were on the vessel.

A little later, the sunken boat was spotted.

The coast guard said a Greek naval frigate and an air force helicopter were taking part in the search, together with two coast guard boats and three merchant ships in the area. [AP, efsyn.gr]

Check Also

Greece foils illegal entry of 2,720 undocumented migrants Aug 14-17

Greek authorities foiled the illegal entry of 2,720 undocumented migrants into the country between August …