Tag: coast guard

Coast Guard Hires

Astypalaia: Two Russians Sentenced to 380 Years in Prison and €3.8 Million Fine for Smuggling 74 Illegal Immigrants

Two Russian traffickers have been sentenced to a total of 380 years in prison and fined €3.8 million for smuggling 74 illegal immigrants into Greece. The migrants, including children, were discovered on a sailboat near Astypalaia in September 2023. The traffickers were found guilty of endangering lives and illegally transporting the migrants for profit. This significant ruling underscores Greece’s commitment to combating human trafficking in the Mediterranean.

Coast Guard Hires

Greece Searches for Missing Child After Migrant Boat Runs Aground Near Samos

Greek authorities are continuing the search for a missing child off the island of Samos after a migrant boat ran aground on a rocky shore. The boat, carrying 46 migrants, including 21 children, struck the rocks on Sunday. While most passengers made it to safety, a child was reported lost in the water, sparking a second day of search efforts by divers and coast guard patrols.

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Boat Coming from Turkish Coasts Pursued by the Coast Guard off Lesvos

A speedboat coming from the Turkish coasts was spotted moving at high speed towards Lesvos and was pursued by three patrol boats of the Hellenic Coast Guard. After a dramatic chase, passengers disembarked on shore, leading to the arrest of two individuals identified as traffickers. A total of 21 foreign nationals were found and taken to a Reception and Identification Center. The investigation is ongoing.

Hellenic Air Force Rescues Two from Migrant Vessel Near Samos

A Hellenic Air Force Super Puma helicopter played a crucial role in rescuing two individuals who had fallen overboard from a migrant vessel carrying 40 undocumented migrants. The rescue operations took place west of Samos, following reports to the Coast Guard about the incident near Plaka beach. The helicopter successfully located and retrieved the individuals, transporting them to Chios for further assistance, while the Samos port authority is conducting a preliminary investigation into the incident.

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37 Migrants Rescued South of Heraklion and Transferred to Rethymno

Thirty-seven migrants were rescued from a boat located 39 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes, Heraklion. With the assistance of a cargo ship flying the Palau flag and a Coast Guard rescue vessel, they were initially transferred to Agia Galini and subsequently to Rethymno for necessary procedures and temporary accommodation.

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Cyprus Warns Migrants: ‘The Route is Closed’

Amid fears of a refugee surge from Lebanon, Cyprus has declared its migration route closed, citing measures to curb asylum seeker inflows. This move has sparked tension with humanitarian groups and led to increased scrutiny over Cyprus’s handling of migration, including accusations of illegal pushbacks and rising racially motivated violence.

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75 Migrants Rescued from Stranded Boat Near Crete

Greek authorities have rescued 75 migrants from a stranded boat near Crete, believed to have departed from Libya. The migrants were picked up by a merchant vessel after issuing a distress call and are being taken to a port in southern Crete. This rescue highlights the increasing use of dangerous migration routes from North Africa to Europe, with over 3,500 people making the journey this year.

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Rescue Underway After Sailboat Sinks Near Greek Island

Eight Polish nationals were pulled to safety after their French-flagged sailboat sank in the eastern Aegean Sea. The cause of the sinking remains unclear. The incident occurred off the coast of Levitha island, prompting a swift rescue response involving air and sea resources.

Greek Coast Guard chases boat close to Turkish coast in a potential diplomatic incident

Tensions Rise as Greek Coast Guard Pursues Dinghy Near Turkish Coast

A Greek Coast Guard boat pursued an inflatable dinghy close to the Turkish coast on Friday, raising concerns of a diplomatic incident between the two nations. The chase occurred in Akcabuk Bay, near Bodrum, where the dinghy, believed to be linked to human trafficking, ultimately reached shore. While the Greek Coast Guard confirmed the pursuit of a smuggling vessel, they could not verify that it extended into Turkish waters. Eyewitness accounts and ongoing territorial disputes between Greece and Turkey underscore the rising tensions in the region.

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Greece Mobilises Security and Armed Forces in Preparation for Potential Flooding from Storm “ATENA”

Greek authorities, including security forces and the military, are on high alert as the severe storm “ATENA” threatens potential flooding. In a coordination meeting led by Climate Crisis Minister Vasilis Kikilias, emergency response plans were activated, including the deployment of EMAK rescue units and standby fire brigade teams for water pumping.