The Greek coast guard rescued 49 people in distress southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula, including eight children. Three of those rescued were arrested as suspected smugglers.
Time and again, people get into distress when fleeing across the Mediterranean Sea. The Greek Coast Guard said it had picked up 49 migrants who were in distress about 200 kilometers southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula. The dpa news agency reported on Friday’s rescue operation in the morning.
Two migrants had to be taken to a hospital in the port city of Kalamata. Everyone else is doing well, including eight children. Helicopters and patrol boats from the Greek Coast Guard and a passing tanker were involved.
Three of the rescued, who are said to come from Egypt, were arrested as suspected smugglers. Most of the people are said to come from Syria and, according to all indications, had started from Libya or Egypt, as reported by Greek media.
Again and again attempts to escape across the Mediterranean
In the eastern and central part of the Mediterranean, smuggling gangs are trying to bring migrants from Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Libya to the EU countries Cyprus, Greece or Italy. Accidents happen all the time.
On June 14, hundreds of migrants who wanted to cross from Libya to Italy drowned when a completely overcrowded fishing boat sank off the Greek coast. 104 people survived. So far 82 bodies have been recovered.