A distress call was made at about 2:30am on Wednesday, from a wooden boat that was sailing off the northeast shores of Farmakonisi, with a Frontex boat being dispatched and locating tens of people.

The Coast Guard launched an operation with Navy support and managed to rescue 26 people (17 men, 5 women and 4 children). They also recovered 12 bodies (4 men, 2 women and 6 children). Those rescued claimed that a further 12 people are still missing at sea.

About 50 people are believed that have been on board the wooden boat and the weather conditions at sea are rather good. As such, it has not yet been determined what caused the wooden boat to sink.