The Hellenic Coast Guard has been on alert since it was informed via 112 on Tuesday morning about a shipwreck off the Kafirea strait between the islands of Evia and Andros.

A coast guard vessel was dispatched to the area and after a search operation located and gathered 9 migrants from the rocky island of Mandilou north of where the shipwreck occurred.

According to those rescued who are from Afghanistan, Egypt and Iran, there were a total of 68 people on the boat that sank after starting, according to the spokesperson of the Coast Guard, from Izmir in Turkey.

A coastguard vessel, a helicopter, and two vessels are involved in the search and rescue operation which is ongoing.

Bad weather conditions in the area where the shipwreck occurred are hampering the rescue operations, as the winds are from the north and have an intensity of 7-8 Beaufort with gusts reaching up to 9 Beaufort.