Shipwreck of migrants off the island of Gavdos: one dead and 25 missing

A migrant boat has sunk off the Greek island of Gavdos, near Crete. As reported by a spokesperson for the Hellenic Coast Guard, one person died in the accident, while 25 others are missing. There were apparently 77 people on board the wrecked dinghy. Of these, 51 were rescued and recovered by two boats that were in the area, and were then transferred to the temporary reception facility for migrants in Avgià in the city of Chania, Crete. The Greek coast guard is currently searching for the missing people.

The recovery of survivors

As the state broadcaster Ert reports, the health conditions of the survivors are said to be good and no one would have needed hospitalization. Among those rescued are, among others, five citizens of Sudan, including a woman, ten from Egypt and thirteen from Bangladesh. The rescue operation coordinated by the Greek authorities began after the sighting of a half-sunken dinghy during the night. Among the shipwrecked, 28 were rescued by a cargo ship and then transferred to a Frontex vessel, while the other survivors were rescued by another commercial ship which disembarked them in the Cretan port of Paleochora.