Under the coordination of the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (CSRC), an operation is underway in the sea area 44 nautical miles south of Gavdos to locate and rescue 35 foreigners from a tanker and search for a missing person.

The rescued people were on board a boat, which was spotted by the Panama-flagged tanker.

Four patrol vessels are involved in the search, while a Police Corps patrol boat and a Frontex force vessel are heading to the scene.

Winds are blowing in the area from the north-northwest, 5-6 Beaufort. The rescued people are expected to be safely transported to a port in Crete.