Cruise Ship Rescues 77 Migrants Off Greece’s Southwestern Coast

A cruise ship successfully rescued 77 migrants stranded in a distressed sailboat off the southwestern coast of Greece, Arab News reported yesterday citing Greek authorities.

The operation took place early Tuesday morning, after a Maltese-flagged cargo ship discovered the vessel 112 nautical miles (129 miles, 207 kilometers) southwest of Pylos, the source mentioned.

Coordinated by Greece’s search and rescue authority, the cruise ship transported the migrants to Kalamata, a southern Greek port town. Fortunately, there were no reports of missing persons, although the nationalities of the rescued individuals and their departure point remain unknown.

Greece is a key transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, seeking entry into the European Union. While many attempt the perilous crossing from Turkey to nearby Greek islands, increased enforcement has led some to bypass Greece entirely, opting for direct routes to Italy from southern Turkey or North Africa.

This rescue highlights ongoing migration challenges in the Mediterranean, where last year, a tragic incident involving an overcrowded fishing trawler resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives off Pylos, with only 104 survivors.