shipwreck

Migrant rescue operation yesterday, Sunday, September 30, 2024, by the Air Force. The Hellenic Air Force yesterday took off a Super Puma helicopter and managed to rescue eight shipwrecked immigrants who were found in a shipwreck off Leros.

The flag vessel sank due to an unknown cause in the sea area 3.4 nautical miles of the islet “Levitha”.

On Monday, September 30, 2024, the Air Force’s Super Puma submarine carried out a mission to rescue 8 shipwrecked people in the sea area of ​​W. Leros#SAR #SuperPuma #HAF pic.twitter.com/hUYyWd1N6e

— Hellenic Air Force (@HAFspokesperson) October 1, 2024

According to the Air Force video, which is breathtaking to watch, among the survivors of the successful operation were small children.

Watch the video:

Meanwhile, one day before the rescue off Leros by the Super Puma, the Samos Port Authority located and rescued 28 migrants.

Rescue in Samos

In more detail, the Coast Guard was informed this morning of the existence of a suspicious high-speed vessel coming from the Turkish coast and heading towards the northeastern coast of Agathonissio.

Immediately, a Coast Guard patrol boat went to the area and spotted the speedboat.

The operator of the speedboat, as stated in the announcement, did not comply with the patrol boat’s instructions to stop and a chase ensued resulting in his arrest.

The crew of the Coast Guard patrol boat rounded up the 29 foreigners on board the speedboat (14 men, 6 women and 9 minor children), who were safely transported to the port of Pythagorion and then taken to a Closed Controlled Facility in Samos.

The 25-year-old foreign operator of the high-speed boat, however, was arrested as a smuggler of the rest for violation of article 25 of Law 5038/2023 “Trafficking of third country nationals” and article 83 of Law 3386/2005 “Illegal entry into the country”.

The Samos Port Authority, which is conducting the preliminary investigation, confiscated the means of transport as well as a mobile phone device.

Rescue in Symi

The Coast Guard carried out another migrant rescue operation on Sunday, this time in Symi.

Specifically, 18 migrants were located on the beach of “AGIO GEORGIOU” (15 men and 3 minor children).

Then, with the assistance of another PLS, they were collected and transported safely to the port of Symi.

The people stated that they left in the early hours of the morning today from Bozburun, Turkey by speed boat, while they paid the sum of 4,500 euros each to the operator of the speed boat for their transport to Greece, who after disembarking them fled towards the opposite Turkish beach.

A preliminary investigation is carried out by the Symi Port Authority.