Greek Coast Guard boat. Photo: Shutterstock A dramatic rescue took place off the coast of Crete on November 9, after the port authorities in Agia Galini, Kokkinos Pyrgos and Kala Limenas received a report of a boat in distress about 15 nautical miles southwest of Kala Limenas.
A Moroccan-flagged cargo ship passing through the area arrived at the scene and rescued 18 people, including 11 men, 6 women and one minor. A Greek Coast Guard vessel later arrived at the scene and transferred the survivors.
During the operations, Coast Guard personnel located the boat in which the migrants were sailing, and 13 bodies were found inside, 12 men and one woman.
The vessel arrived at the port of Agia Galini, where one of the survivors, who was unconscious, was transferred to the Moyers Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead.
Three additional survivors, a man, a woman and a minor, were evacuated first to the medical center in Spili and later to the general hospital in Rethymno. The remaining 14 survivors were transferred to temporary accommodation in Rethymno, accompanied by a staff member from the port station in Agia Galini.
The Port Authority in Rethymno has launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the incident.