Tanker rescues around 150 migrants off Greece's south
ABC News
Greece’s coast guard says it has launched a search and rescue operation after a boat carrying around 150 people believed to be migrants ran into trouble off the country’s southwestern coast
ATHENS, Greece -- Greece’s coast guard on Friday launched a search and rescue operation after a boat carrying around 150 people believed to be migrants ran into trouble off the country's southwestern coast.
The coast guard said a passing cargo ship raised the alarm after coming across the wooden boat, which was taking on water, about 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers, 80 miles) southwest of the islet of Schiza off the coast of the Peloponnese.
The wooden boat’s passengers were picked up by the cargo ship, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker named Aristofanis.
A coast guard patrol boat, one air force helicopter and one navy helicopter were scrambled to the area and continued the search and rescue operation after one of the cargo ship’s crew members told authorities he saw a woman fall into the sea as the boat's passengers were being transferred onto the larger vessel.
