In the early hours of the morning, the coast guard launched a rescue operation for 49 migrants, following a distress signal sent by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center (JSRCC) of the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters.

According to reports, in the early hours of Holy Wednesday, the coast guard authorities of Paleochora, Chora Sfakion, Agia Galini, Kaloi Limenes, and Kokkinos Pyrgos were alerted to the presence of a vessel with a significant number of people on board in distress, 26 nautical miles south of Gavdos.

A coast guard patrol boat departed immediately, located the vessel, and carried out the rescue of all 49 individuals on board – all foreign nationals and all men. The rescued were safely transported to the port of Chora Sfakion.

They were then taken to a reception facility in Agyia, Chania. A preliminary investigation into the incident is being conducted by the central port authority of Chania.