GREECE: Two children and a woman dead after the sinking of a boat east of Crete

Three dead and 53 rescued is the report so far from the shipwreck that transported refugees and migrants.

The shipwreck occurred late in the afternoon, 12 nautical miles east of Crete, after the sinking of a boat, which transported an unspecified number of people. From that time, a large operation of the Coast Guard began and is in progress, in which the Navy and the Air Force participate.

According to the first information, the bodies belong to a woman and two children.

The announcement of the Coast Guard states in detail:

A large search and rescue operation for foreigners has been carried out since the afternoon today, in the sea area of ​​12 n.m. east of the prefecture of Crete.

In particular, the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center of LS-EL.AKT. (ΕΚΣΕΔ) was informed in the afternoon, for a boat of unknown other elements, which was in a difficult position with foreigners boarding in the above sea area.

Immediately under the coordination of EKSED, an additional ship rushed to the above area which, while initially locating the said vessel sailing at a short distance, then sank. In addition, an LS-EL.AKT offshore ship, a LS-EL.AKT lifeboat, two (02) Navy ships, a Navy helicopter, a helicopter rushed to the area. Air Force and two (02) additional floating ships.

So far, fifty-three (53) foreigners and three (03) bodies have been collected, while in the sea area of ​​the investigations, which are in full swing, adverse weather conditions prevail, as winds of intensity B 6-7 BF are blowing.

The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Mr. Giannis Plakiotakis, as soon as he was informed about the incident, was at the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center, where he ordered that all appropriate means be made available in the area for the operation.

According to cretalive.gr, the rescued are being transported to Karpathos.

Source: Sigmalive