80 people rescued from boat south of Agia Galini, Frontex says

A search and rescue operation off the southern coast of Crete brought 80 people to safety after a boat was spotted 39 nautical miles south of Agia Galini, according to reports.

An unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, was used to locate the boat, ERT reported. A cargo ship flying the flag of Hong Kong also assisted in the operation.

A Frontex vessel then approached the boat and collected the people on board, who were transported safely to the port of Agia Galini, according to the report.

Northerly winds of 5 Beaufort were affecting the area at the time. ERT reported that this was the second boat located within a few hours in the same maritime area.

The incident follows other recent search and rescue operations in waters south of Crete, including one in which 51 people were rescued after a migrant boat partially sank south of Gavdos, and an earlier case in which a boat capsized south of Gavdos leaving one dead and 25 missing.