A ship owned by a merchant has come to the aid of around 70 migrants who were in distress on a yacht off the southwestern coast of Greece, as confirmed by Greek officials on Thursday. The migrants, who were all on board the troubled vessel, did not report any health issues. They are currently being transported to the southern Greek port of Kalamata for further assistance and processing.
The rescue operation occurred approximately 15 nautical miles (equivalent to 17 miles) off the village of Koroni in the southwestern region, according to the coast guard. Specific details such as the nationalities of the migrants or their point of departure have not been disclosed as of yet.
It is a common practice for smuggling networks to overcrowd yachts with migrants, setting sail from Turkey toward Italy through the central Aegean Sea. Each migrant typically pays a substantial amount, often in the range of several thousand dollars, for the journey.
The established route navigates around the eastern Aegean waters, which are vigilantly monitored by Greece’s coast guard to deter small migrant vessels departing from the Turkish shoreline towards the nearby Greek islands.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges and risks faced by migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea, often resorting to perilous journeys facilitated by smuggling operations in overcrowded and unsafe vessels.