A major Coast Guard operation has been ongoing since the morning to locate missing sailors off Lesvos, after the sinking of the cargo ship “Raptor” and 14 crew members in the sea area 4.5 nautical miles southwest of the island.

So far only one sailor has been located and was picked up alive by a Navy helicopter. The rescued person was taken to Mytilene General Hospital.

The 106 meter long ship had departed from Decelia in Egypt loaded with 6,000 tons of salt and the final destination was the port of Constantinople.

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The information of protothema.gr states that after 7:00′ in the morning it declared a mechanical failure, at 8.20′ it transmitted a mayday signal and that it is listing before its track was lost from the radars.

Five cargo ships are at the area, three ships of the Hellenic Coast Guard, one helicopter of the Hellenic Air Force and one of the Hellenic Navy as well as a frigate, assisting in the SAR operation.

The weather conditions in the area are difficult, with winds of 8 Beaufort and waves up to 3 meters high.

The crew members include two Syrian nationals, one Indian and 11 Egyptians. The ship-owning company is based in Lebanon.