GREECE: GREEK COASTGUARD VESSELS HAVE RESCUED HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS STRANDED ON A LEAKING TURKISH SHIP

Record ID: 646561

  • Title: GREECE: GREEK COASTGUARD VESSELS HAVE RESCUED HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS STRANDED ON A LEAKING TURKISH SHIP
  • Date: 2nd January 2002
  • Summary: (U5) CRETE, GREECE (JANUARY 3, 2002)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV IMMIGRANT SHIP ANCHORED OFF SHORE 0.05 2. SLV/SV OF IMMIGRANT SHIP WHILE RESCUE SHIP MOORING AND LATCHING ON ALONGSIDE (2 SHOTS) 0.27 3. SV/SLV OF IMMIGRANTS HUDDLED ON BOARD (2 SHOTS) 0.44 4. SV OF COAST GUARD SOLDIERS TRANSPORTING IMMIGRANTS FROM ONE SHIP TO OTHER (4 SHOTS) 1.16 5. SLV RESCUE SHIP REACHING PORT 1.21 6. SV RED CROSS WORKERS LIFTING IMMIGRANTS OFF SHIP 1.29 7. SLV RED CROSS STATION SET UP AT PORT 1.32 8. SV MAN ON STRETCHER BEING TREATED BY DOCTORS INSIDE RED CROSS TENT 1.39 9. SV MAN BEING PLACED IN AMBULANCE 1.50 10. MCU (ENGLISH) UNIDENTIFIED IMMIGRANT FROM ERITREA SAYING: "Five days out on the sea, without food, without anything. People got sick." 2.02 11. SV RED CROSS WORKERS HELPING IMMIGRANTS OFF SHIP 2.14 (U5) CRETE, GREECE (JANUARY 3, 2002)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (***NIGHT SHOTS) 12. LV/SLV RESCUE HELICOPTER LANDING AFTER TAKING IMMIGRANTS OFF BOAT (3 SHOTS) 2.27 13. SLV/SV OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND SICK PEOPLE BEING CARRIED OFF HELICOPTER, BEING WRAPPED IN BLANKETS (4 SHOTS) 3.00 14. SV WOMAN BEING ESCORTED OFF HELICOPTER WRAPPED IN BLANKET CRYING OUT FOR HER CHILD 3.17 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CRETE, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9ZG97EVGNVCXT7DWUV1F6Y63
  • Story Text: Greek coastguard vessels have rescued hundreds of
    frightened and exhausted migrants
    stranded for days in rough seas on a leaking Turkish ship.



    The Greek Coastguard moored alongside the dilapidated
    vessel, the Aydin Kaptan, on Thursday (January 3) and
    transferred the immigrants onto a second ship before taking
    them to port in the town of Ierapetra on the island of Crete.

    The Aydin Kaptan was south of Crete on its way to Italy
    with 257 migrants aboard when it issued a distress signal on
    Tuesday (January 1).

    Greek rescue crews rushed to the area, spotted the 40
    metre (130 foot) vessel moving very slowly and asked nearby
    NATO warships on exercise in the eastern Mediterranean for
    help.

    Crew members of the British naval survey ship HMS Beagle
    boarded the vessel, repaired a hole in the hull, restored
    power to one engine and began leading it to Crete.

    The Beagle was joined by the Spanish naval vessel,
    Extremadura, which took over leading the ship before finally
    handing over to the Greek coastguard which towed it to Crete
    on Thursday.

    Medical examiners said none of the immigrants had life
    threatening injuries, but were suffering from cold, exhaustion
    and hunger. "Five days out on the sea, without food, without
    anything. People got sick," said one Eritrean migrant.

    A Red Cross emergency station was set up at Ierapetra port
    to assess the migrants and those who needed further treatment
    were taken to a hospital in Crete for observation.

    The rest were to be temporarily sheltered in a hotel on
    the island.

    Most of the migrants were from Middle Eastern and African
    countries. One immigrant from the African nation of Eritrea
    said the price paid to board the ship bound for Italy from
    Turkey was between US$1,500 and US$2,000.

    He told of a nightmare 5-day journey without food or water
    during which many of the passengers had become ill.

    43 women and children were airlifted from the ship on
    Wednesday as strong winds threatened to delay the rescue.

    They were taken to Crete or nearby NATO warships.

    Thousands of migrants, mostly from Asia, eastern Europe
    and Africa try to enter Greece illegally every year, before
    moving on to other European Union countries.




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