Greece rescues 40 migrants in distress in the Aegean Sea

Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos

On August 2, Greece announced that it had rescued 40 immigrants from a boat in distress in the Aegean Sea.

The Greek coast guard said the 40 people rescued were receiving medical care and were in good health.

The boat carrying the migrants had earlier run into trouble in the waters off the island of Lesbos. A Greek coast guard ship had approached the scene as the boat was sinking.

Greek authorities have also charged two people in connection with the incident. According to the announcement, one person used a sharp instrument to slash the boat, “endangering the safety of passengers” when a coast guard patrol boat approached. The other person threw the small outboard motor into the sea.

It is not yet clear why the two men committed such a destructive act.

Lesbos island is close to Turkey and is a major entry point for migrants from the Middle East and Africa seeking opportunities in Europe.

In recent times, the Greek coast guard has increased patrols in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea to promptly prevent illegal immigration.

According to sources, after detecting the ships entering its waters, Greece notified the Ankara authorities to intercept the ships and bring the migrants back to Türkiye.

According to VNA