ATHENS, GREECE —
A small cargo ship with about 400 migrants on board that suffered engine issues within the jap Mediterranean Sea off the island of Crete is being led to a secure anchorage in Greece, the Greek coast guard mentioned Friday.
A coast guard assertion mentioned the Turkish-flagged freighter was situated by a Greek search and rescue vessel east of Crete. Greek authorities had earlier been knowledgeable that the cargo ship was crippled and in want of help.
There was no fast indication that anyone on board was in sick well being. The nationalities of the passengers and crew have been unknown.
“Proper now, the essential factor is to get the ship to a secure anchorage,” an official with information of the operation advised The Related Press. The official spoke on customary situation of anonymity.
The coast guard assertion mentioned the ship had set off from Turkey. Its authentic vacation spot was not clear, however it could doubtless have been heading for Italy the place smuggling rings regularly ship migrants by sea.
Often they use yachts, and a big vessel able to carrying a number of hundred individuals would mark a shift in techniques by smugglers.
The coast guard mentioned that due to the variety of individuals on the ship it was “one of many greatest search and rescue operations carried out within the jap Mediterranean.
Greece has toughened border policing and maritime patrols over the previous 18 months, resulting in an increase in site visitors of migrant boats leaving the Turkish coast and heading on to Italy.
