Photo credit: The Greek Times
Twelve migrants have been found dead aboard a boat off the southern coast of Crete, where three separate search and rescue operations have been carried out overnight, with a total of 105 people rescued.
IOEMA reports that the tragedy unfolded approximately 15 nautical miles south-southwest of Kali Limemenes, when a container ship sailing under the Moroccan flag spotted a boat carrying migrants.
According to initial reports, a rescue operation was launched under the coordination of Greece’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), resulting in the rescue of 18 migrants.
A Greek coastguard patrol vessel arrived at the scene and took the 18 survivors aboard. Rescuers also recovered 12 bodies from the migrant boat.
The coastguard vessel was heading towards the port of Agia Galini, while weather conditions in the area were reported to be favourable.
Meanwhile, two additional search and rescue operations have been conducted in the waters south of Crete, also coordinated by the JRCC.
In the first incident, a Frontex aircraft spotted a boat carrying approximately 47 migrants, some 30 nautical miles south of Kali Liimenes.
All those on board were picked up by a Frontex vessel and are due to be transferred to the port of Kali Limenes.
In a separate incident, a Frontex unmanned aerial vehicle detected another boat carrying approximately 47 migrants, 31 nautical miles southeast of Kali Limenes.
A vessel operated by the European border agency subsequently rescued the passengers, who were also being transported to Kali Limenes.
Across the three operations, approximately 117 migrants were located in the waters off southern Crete.
Of those, 105 were rescued, while 12 were found dead.
