On Sunday, Greek authorities rescued 90 migrants from a yacht that was sailing from Turkey to Italy.
The U.S.-flagged yacht was believed to be carrying refugees seeking a better life in Europe. Among the passengers were 37 children, making the rescue operation even more urgent.
The rescue operation was launched after a passenger on the yacht sent out a distress call from the Greek island of Kythira, which is located around 155 miles southwest of Athens.
According to the coast guard, three vessels were used to rescue the individuals.The migrants came from several nations, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iraq, and Egypt.
The majority were men, but there were also 18 women and 10 girls on board. The passengers were taken to a nearby mainland port for registration.
However, two of the passengers were arrested on charges of smuggling and have been detained. It is not clear at this time if they were crew members of the yacht or if they had facilitated the journey of the migrants in any way.
The issue of smuggling has become increasingly problematic in the Mediterranean region, which is a popular destination for refugees and migrants. Despite the risks associated with such journeys, many continue to make the perilous journey in the hope of finding safety and stability in Europe.
