ATHENS: Local officials have said that about 150 migrants have been rescued from overloaded sail boats in two separate incidents near the coast of Greece.
According to western media quoting Greek coast guard a group of 76 people was rescued from a ship near island of Zakynthos in western Greece. After rescue they were taken on a passing by Egyptian cargo ship.
There are no details available about destination of the boat or from where it was coming. However, it was sailing on a route used by human traffickers.
In the second incident, about 80 people were evacuated from a sailboat near Kythnos island, southeast of Athens. The coast guard say all rescued people are in good health.
Greece witnessing rise in migrant boats arrival
Greece has seen a rise in the arrival of boats smuggling migrants into the country over the last two months. Mostly small boats are captured near the eastern Aegean islands.
Greece has been a preferred route to enter into the European Union for people fleeing conflict or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
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According to the United Nations data, more than 17,300 people have come to Greece by land and sea this year so far.
Earlier in June, an overloaded fishing trawler carrying around 750 individuals took up from Libya, tragically sank near Greece. While approximately 100 were saved, Greek sources estimate that around 600 lives were lost in the tragedy.
