The Blue Star 1 assisted the Coast Guard in the rescue operation of 61 migrants that took place off the southeastern shore of Mytilene on Monday morning. The inflatable boat used by the migrants was cramped and started taking in water.
In total, the Coast Guard collected 26 migrants and the Blue Star 1 a further 35 migrants. The captain of the Blue Star 1 told Mega Channel that many of the migrants, including a 7-month baby, had been in the sea for 7-8 hours before they were rescued. All 61 migrants are being taken to Mytilene.
Since Friday morning a total of 2,006 migrants have been rescued in 55 operations near Chios, Mytilene, Samos, Kos, Rhodes and Farmakonisi.
El. Venizelos arrives in Piraeus
On Monday morning the Eleftherios Venizelos arrived in Piraeus with 2,492 migrants from Mytilene. According to the caretaker Alternate Minister of Migration Yannis Mouzalas there are between 15,000 and 18,000 migrants and refugees on the island who have not been documented.
He stated that the goal is to transfer 10,000 of them within the next few weeks, to provide some relief to the island, as clashes have broken out between Afghan and Arab refugees with the Police and Coast Guard authorities.
