The Portuguese Maritime Police carried out, in the early hours of Saturday, February 21, a search and rescue operation that resulted in the rescue of 67 immigrants who were on board a driftwood vessel, south of the Greek island of Crete, announced this Monday, February 23, the National Maritime Authority (AMN).
In a statement, the AMN says that this intervention took place within the scope of the European mission under the aegis of the European agency FRONTEX, in support of the Hellenic authorities and that the Maritime Police vessel, deployed for joint operations in the Mediterranean, on the island of Gavdos, received a request for help from the local authorities after the presence of a “vessel in difficulties, overcrowded and without safe navigation conditions” was detected.
“Upon arriving at the scene, the Portuguese team immediately began rescue and rescue procedures, providing assistance to the 67 people on board, who were at risk due to the instability of the vessel and the sea conditions”, says AMN.
The 67 migrants were transferred to a ship working for FRONTEX, which ensured subsequent monitoring.
Leave a Reply