The Coast Guard has announced that early on Monday morning it located a boat in Greek waters near Mytilene with about 38 refugees, who were attempting to cross over to Greece.

The refugees broadcast a distress signal, prompting the Coast Guard to launch a rescue operation. A passing-by Coast Guard vessel located the boat and began collecting the refugees, one of whom was overboard.

So far the Coast Guard has not determined the nationality of the refugees and will launch an investigation in order to identify and apprehend the trafficker.