Tragedy: Three dead, 25 missing in migrant shipwreck off Samos

The motorboat that the illegal immigrants were sailing on

A motorboat carrying illegal migrants sank off the island of Samos. According to the coast guard, three people were killed and 25 more are missing.

Coast Guard patrol boats are carrying out a rescue operation that is made extremely difficult by adverse weather conditions in the area.

The rubber dinghy, which was carrying 33 people (according to survivors), was reportedly holed and sank. (Editor's note:judging by the size of the boat (in the photo) and the fact that it was still afloat, the boat could not have accommodated so many people).

🔴 Σε εξέλιξη επιχείρηση έρευνας και διάσωσης ναυαγών στη Σάμο. κινητοποιηθεί το διασωστικό σκάφος Α lbatross της ΕΟΔ Σάμου. Super Puma και ναυαγοσωστικό σκά φος του Λιμενικού.#HRT #Samos #ναυαγοί pic.twitter.com/0zc9hNpxBQ

— Hellenic Rescue Team (@HellenicRescue) September 23, 2024

A search and rescue operation is underway on the island of Samos to find shipwreck victims. At the request of the authorities, the rescue vessel “Albatros” of the Samos Rescue Service was mobilized. A Super Puma helicopter and a coast guard rescue boat are also participating in the operation.

According to initial information, the inflatable boat sank approximately 150 meters from the shore in bad weather conditions. A private person heard voices and informed the coast guard.

A search and rescue operation is currently underway at the scene, led by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, to find missing people in the sea area of ​​Agios Isidoros, northwest of Samos.

The operation involves one LS-EL.AKT patrol boat, one high seas patrol boat (PATH), one LS-EL.AKT patrol vessel, one boat of the Samos private rescue service, one LS-EL.AKT patrol car and an Air Force helicopter.

Rescue efforts are being hampered adverse weather conditionsprevailing in this area: the wind blows 5-6 points on the Beaufort scale.

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