A major search and rescue operation has been launched off Kali Limenes in Crete as of Friday morning. Reports indicate that there are about 700 people on board the vessel.
The search and rescued operation is taking place in international waters, about 75 miles south of Kali Limenes. So far 302 have been rescued from the half-sunken ship and four bodies have been recovered. Hundreds are still missing.
It appears the ship set sail from a northern African port for Italy. Four nearby vessels helping outt the Coast Guard craft in the area. A Navy aircraft and a Super Puma helicopter are also participating in the operation.
Since the closing of the Balkan route into the European Union, traffickers have switched to entering from the northern African coast and into Italy. Recently about 220 refugees have ended up in Crete.
