Greece Rescues 150 Migrants as Smuggling Routes Evolve

Greek authorities rescued nearly 150 migrants attempting to reach the country by sea in small boats. A vessel with 115 people aboard was found in distress near Lesbos. Smugglers are increasingly using longer routes from Libya and Turkey. This year, nearly 30,000 migrants have illegally entered Greece.

Greek authorities have rescued nearly 150 migrants trying to reach the country by sea in small boats over a 24-hour period, officials confirmed on Wednesday, including a vessel carrying 115 individuals.

A coast guard statement reported that the vessel was in distress off the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos, close to the Turkish coast, and three patrol vessels rescued 67 men, 27 women, and 21 children, taking them to a reception center on Lesbos. The boat sank shortly after the rescue.

This incident marks one of the largest single boatloads of migrants to reach the island from Turkey in recent months. Smugglers are increasingly opting for longer routes from Libya to Crete and from Turkey through the central Aegean Sea, where coast guard patrols are less stringent.

On Wednesday, the coast guard also rescued 25 men and seven boys from a boat struggling 30 nautical miles south of Crete. Migrants reported spending three days crossing the Mediterranean after boarding in eastern Libya. Two men were arrested on suspicion of belonging to a smuggling ring.

The United Nations refugee agency data indicates nearly 30,000 migrants have arrived illegally in Greece this year, with most from Afghanistan, Syria, or Egypt. The influx has eased slightly following a post-pandemic spike in 2023.

(With inputs from agencies.)