eKathimerini — A large rescue operation was under way on Monday to save around 200 undocumented migrants from a smuggling boat that issued a distress signal off the island of Crete.
The boat gave out the signal after foundering off the island’s southeastern coast.
Boats that had been sailing in the area assisted the smuggling vessel until Coast Guard boats were dispatched to help the migrants.
A Greek-flagged tanker and a Panama-flagged freighter in the area are heading to the location to assist in the rescue operation, about 80 nautical miles south of Crete and 15 nautical miles within Libyan waters, coastguard spokesman Nikos Lagkadianos said
