“Alert” was raised by the coast guard and authorities on Monday evening (29/9), due to two boats carrying migrants that were spotted south of Crete. Specifically, according to information from cretapost, the two vessels were detected by a cargo ship south of Gavdos island.
Read: Migration crisis: SOS after dramatic surge in arrivals at Gavdos and Chania – Plan to create two temporary accommodation facilities
Two migrant boats south of Crete
Authorities were subsequently notified and a major rescue operation was launched to save the passengers. A Frontex vessel rushed to the scene, along with Greek Coast Guard boats, which guided the two boats to the port of Agia Galini.
There it was confirmed that 69 migrants were aboard the boats, including four women and two minors. The migrants were transported by bus to Rethymno, where they are temporarily housed in the old Harbor Authority building. Identification procedures have already begun, while authorities continue investigations to locate the smugglers.
