At least 17 dead and 100 migrants rescued alive this Wednesday from the sea after the boat they were traveling in capsized off the Peloponnese peninsula, in southwestern Greece, during an operation by the Greek authorities, according to the Greek authorities. .
“An extensive rescue operation is underway in Pylos, where a fishing boat capsized with a large number of migrants on board,” the coast guard said in a statement.
According to the Greek authorities, the migrants alive will be transferred to Kalamata, a port in the southern Peloponnese.
The vessel was first sighted Tuesday afternoon by a European Border Surveillance Agency, Frontex, plane, but the migrants on board “refused any help,” the coast guard says, adding that overnight the boat capsized and sank. .
In addition to the port police patrol boats, a Greek navy frigate, a plane and a helicopter have participated in this rescue operation, as well as six boats navigating in the area.
According to initial information from the authorities, the boat left Libya for Italy.
Greece is a regular gateway for immigrants who generally come from neighboring Turkey to northern Europe.
On Wednesday, a distressed sailing ship with 80 migrants on board sailing off Crete was also rescued and towed by coast guard patrol boats to the port of Kaloi Limenes in the south of this Greek island off Libya, according to informed the port police.
Updated news at 9:44 am
Source: TSF
