Tragedy struck again, as a vessel carrying migrants and refugees from the Turkish shores to Greece capsized off the coast of Mytilene. The inflatable boat was initially located by a Turkish ferry boat going from Mytilene to Ayvalik, but was unable to stop and assist.
The Coast Guard promptly launched a major rescue operation for the migrants and refugees, along with a Turkish vessel. The Coast Guard recovered 45 people and the Turkish boat a further 3. In total 48 people have been rescued – 29 men, 8 women and 11 children.
During the operation the Coast Guard announced that the bodies of a 34-year-old woman and a 2-year-old boy were recovered. The survivors told authorities that there were no missing persons.
Further rescue operations off Mytilene
Shortly later, the Coast Guard was called out to an area near the airport of Mytilene, where it rescued a total of 40 refugees and migrants (including 8 children and 4 women).
In a rescue operation that took place around 11am, off Sykamnia, in the north of Mytilene, the Coast Guard salvaged a wooden boat that was carrying 153 people.
