Nine arrested in shipwreck near Pylos

Authorities have made nine arrests in connection with a shipwreck off the coast of Pylos that killed at least 79 people. According to the information, these are Egyptians who are accused of slave trade, causing a shipwreck and creating a criminal organization.

Previously, the port authority of Kalamata conducted a preliminary investigation into the smuggling of hundreds of migrants on a fishing boat that sank off the coast of Pylos. The traffickers reportedly had a web page and found clients there. The cost of transportation ranged from $4,000 to $6,500 per person.

It was from Egypt, and not from Libya, that the doomed ship set off

It is important to note that the testimonies of the rescued people show that the ship eventually started from Egypt and stopped in Brook, Libya. Among those rescued are citizens of Egypt, Libya and Pakistan, which may mean that people from the port of departure were on board the ship. In addition, as several rescued migrants told rescuers, there were many women and children in the ship’s cabins. This is a tactic used by traffickers to protect women and children from bad weather.

Head of Frontex at Kalamata Port Authority

On Thursday afternoon, Frontex chief Hans Leitens was at the Kalamata Port Authority to get updates on the progress of the investigation. “I’m here to better understand what happened and the role of Frontex. I’m also here to express my solidarity and help to my Greek colleagues who have done everything possible to save lives,” Mr. Leitens said. He said his heart is with the victims and their families and stressed that as soon as he learned of the accident, he changed his schedule to come to Kalamata. “This is a terrible event,” he said.

In the morning, the relatives of the passengers of the ill-fated ship arrive at the port of Kalamata

Relatives of passengers constantly arrive at the port of Kalamata, anxiously looking for their relatives who were on the fishing boat that sank off Pylos. Kasim Abuzid came from Germany and along with his friend arrived in the port of Kalamata this afternoon in search of his wife and 6 other relatives who were on board the ship. Crossing the road to the area where the rescued migrants are, he approached people in case he managed to find one of his missing relatives, while showing a photo of his wife in case anyone saw her. In a conversation with the Coast Guard, he was allowed to enter the zone to search everything inside in case he found his wife. He said that his wife was going to Italy, and in a conversation with her he was told that there were 20 other women on the fishing boat, most of them in the holds.

Aftab lives in England, he is from Pakistan, and says that they have found a relative, but they are looking for 4 more people. “We want to know where the rest are,” he said.

In recent hours, the number of relatives has been growing, and with it, anxiety for the fate of their loved ones has also grown. Some are accompanied by their friends, others go alone but follow the same procedure. They stand at the fences, talk to the competent authorities, who record their data and let some people through if they recognize the person they are looking for.

At the same time, rescued migrants are constantly being examined in mobile centers that are set up during the day, and volunteers and organizations that arrived at the port yesterday provide psychological support.

Kalamata Mayor Thanasis Vassilopoulos: The mobilization of local authorities in Kalamata was immediate

“We have launched all procedures, we have worked with the health authorities of the region and beyond, the hospitals of Laconia and Arcadia have been put on alert, ambulances from all over the Peloponnese have arrived here because we had the hope that we would be called upon to manage too many 78 people died, including one woman, and this confirms that there were women in the group that was on board, as the refugees themselves said. There were not only 182 people, there were definitely three times as many,” he said. Mayor in an interview with APE-MPA.

Mr. Vassilopoulos highlighted the help provided by the people of Kalamata. “The mobilization of the Kalamata community was evident yesterday. Although we have municipal kitchens and we prepared food last night, in the end we did not bring it because the local authorities brought here 160 portions, which were provided by food suppliers for people here, and also for rescuers who stay here all day. And today, agencies and citizens continue to bring water, clothes and food. Yesterday new clothes, slippers, underwear, shoes arrived from enterprises in our area,” he said.

Greek Red Cross launches search for missing migrants

The Hellenic Red Cross Family Links (RFL) team arrived in Kalamata today to coordinate on-site efforts to find missing people and restore family links to survivors of the tragic shipwreck, the Red Cross said in a statement. Citizens looking for their loved ones are asked to contact the Red Cross Search and RFL at 210 5230 043 and 210 5140440 (migrant phone line) and email Email address is being protected from spambots. Javascript must be enabled in your browser to view the address.

In Kalamata and UNHCR

A UNHCR team is also located in Kalamata, where shipwreck survivors were transferred, assisting authorities, agencies and local groups, rescuers and volunteers until the transfer of these people is completed, coordinated by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

“We have provided emergency supplies as well as personal hygiene items. At the request of the police authorities, our colleague, who speaks Arabic, is assisting the work of the disaster victim identification team in their communication with the victims. We are in a state of readiness to provide further support in difficult minutes”– Stella Nanoe, UNHCR Communications Officer, told APE-IPA.

Members of the UNHCR team had the opportunity to interact with some of the rescued people. “People who survived this terrible tragedy are still in a bad psychological state and are in terrible agony, trying to contact their loved ones and let them know that they are all right. Some are looking for their friends and relatives with whom they traveled,” – concludes Stella Nanoe.

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