The Greek coast guard has initiated two separate rescue operations on Wednesday in response to distress calls from migrants aboard sailboats. These operations are currently underway off the coasts of both western Greece and a Cycladic island near the Greek capital, according to the coast guard’s reports.
In the first incident, a group of 76 individuals was successfully rescued from a sailing boat that had encountered difficulties approximately 64 nautical miles (equivalent to 74 miles or 118 kilometers) southwest of Zakynthos, an Ionian Sea island situated in western Greece. The coast guard swiftly intervened, coordinating the rescue operation. All migrants have been safely taken aboard an Egyptian-flagged cargo ship that happened to be passing by the area. Fortunately, there have been no reports of missing persons in connection with this operation.
Although the origin of the distressed sailboat remains unclear, the location of the incident is notably within the route commonly used by smuggling vessels to transport migrants from northern Africa to Italy. This raises concerns about the ongoing issues surrounding irregular migration in the region.
In the second incident, another rescue operation was launched to assist what has been described as a “sizeable number” of individuals on board a sailboat near the northwestern coast of Kythnos island, one of the Cyclades located to the southeast of the Greek capital. The precise count of individuals on the vessel remains uncertain at this time.
To address the situation, two private boats and a coast guard patrol vehicle on land were immediately dispatched to the area. Additionally, three coast guard patrol boats are en route to the location to provide support and ensure the safety of those on board the sailboat.
The increased arrival of smuggling boats carrying migrants to Greek shores has become a growing concern in recent months. Most of these boats are smaller dinghies that attempt to reach the eastern Aegean Sea islands in close proximity to the Turkish coast. This surge in irregular migration has prompted a heightened vigilance from Greek authorities and coast guard units to ensure the safety and security of both migrants and the local communities.
