Pylos: 92 migrants arrived in a wooden boat, including 37 children

On Thursday in the sea, 65 nautical miles southwest of Pylos, a large-scale rescue operation was carried out to rescue a ship with 92 illegal migrants on board.

They were all rescued after a distress call from the F/C “NORDIC ANNA” (Portuguese flag), three of them were picked up by the F/X ship “KOOL BALTIC” (Liberian flag).

Winds of force 4-5 on the Beaufort scale prevailed in the disaster area, which made it difficult to rescue and board the Coast Guard boat the migrants who had previously been on the bulk carrier and tanker who arrived to help them. The weather conditions were not favorable, even when they landed at the anchorage in the port of Kalamata in the late afternoon. With great difficulty, they finally went ashore, many were barefoot and cold. Among them are many children who did not stop crying.

According to the latest information, there were at least 92 migrants on the small wooden boat: 24 underage boys, 13 girls, 12 women, 43 men. The information said that the age of the youngest children starts at 2 months and goes up to 4 years, but there are older ones.

Among the migrants on board, three men, aged 51, 47 and 32, were identified and arrested, according to the Coast Guard, who played various roles in transporting the rest of the migrants, as well as operating and propelling the ship. A preliminary investigation into the case was carried out by the Maritime Security and Protection Authority in cooperation with the Kalamata Port Authority.

According to the state television channel ERT, the process of identifying and fixing them has begun. According to the illegal immigrants, they are refugees from Syria and Palestine.

The civil protection and welfare services of the municipality were deployed on site, and the Peloponnese region brought clothing. Representatives of the Red Cross, a group of EODY doctors arrived at the port authority where the migrants are staying to conduct rapid tests for coronavirus, as well as medical staff from the Kalamata hospital.

According to the results of the tests, it was found necessary to transfer the man and the child to the hospital. They were picked up by an ambulance and taken to a medical facility.

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