ATHENS: National coast guard of Greece has rescued 52 people from a small boat, anchored at a deserted island far from the country’s mainland, western media reported on Tuesday.
Greek authorities told media that the private boat was first spotted while sailing near the small island of Falconera.
The Greek island is situated between Milos and the Peloponnese an area known for rough seas and strong waves. The rescued migrants were later taken to the mainland port of Lavrio.
In another rescue operation, 19 people were rescued from a small ship that had lost steering near the eastern island of Samos while in a separate operation, 18 people were picked from another vessel from the same island.
Greek coast guard rescues 52 people from migrant boat
In June this year, a vessel carrying 750 illegal migrants from Libya to Italy drowned in the southwest of Greece the worst Mediterranean migrant tragedy.
Only 104 people could survive in the tragic incident, while Greek authorities were blamed for failing to show on time.
In recent weeks Greece has reported a surge in the number of people coming into the country by sea.
For decades, the Eastern European country has been as one of the favored migration routes into Europe for people escaping conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Rights organizations have been criticizing Greece for allegedly deporting migrants without allowing them to apply for asylum. The government strongly rejects the allegations.
