Two consecutive search-and-rescue operations for migrants took place in the early morning hours in the sea area south of Gavdos, with port authorities rescuing approximately 131 people from three boats.
In the first operation, coordinated by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSE), a Frontex unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a small boat carrying 43 foreign nationals, approximately 20 nautical miles south of Gavdos. The passengers were picked up by a Frontex vessel and are being transported to the port of Paleochora, while good weather conditions prevailed in the area.
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Shortly thereafter, a second operation took place in the same broader maritime zone, when a Frontex unmanned aerial vehicle spotted two more boats carrying a total of approximately 88 foreign nationals. In this instance as well, a vessel from the European task force was deployed and proceeded to rescue the passengers. The rescued individuals are also being transported to Paleochora.
These two operations, carried out within a few hours, bring the total number of migrants located south of Gavdos to approximately 131.
Source: APE-MPE
