A cruise ship has rescued 77 migrants from a sailboat in distress far off the southwestern coast of Greece, Greek authorities reported on Tuesday. The operation was coordinated by Greece's search and rescue authority.
The Maltese-flagged cargo ship first spotted the troubled sailboat 112 nautical miles (207 kilometres) southwest of Pylos in the early hours of Tuesday. Responding to the emergency, a nearby cruise ship was dispatched to pick up all those on board. The rescued migrants are currently being transported to the southern Greek port town of Kalamata. Authorities confirmed that no one was reported missing, but details on the migrants' nationalities and departure point remain unavailable.
Greece is a key transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, seeking entry into the European Union. While many opt for the short but perilous journey from the Turkish coast to eastern Greek islands, increased crackdowns have led some to attempt the longer route directly to Italy in larger vessels, often starting from southern Turkey or North Africa.
(Source: Associated Press)