Baris adrift off Crete with 700 migrants on board
The "Baris" with 700 immigrants from various countries went adrift 30 nautical miles southeast of Crete after a mechanical Problem on Nov 25, 2014.
Other ships and a frigate of the Hellenic Navy have reached the “Baris” in an attempt to rescue its passengers but the operation was very difficult due to heavy weather, as the wind blows with an intensity of seven to eight Beaufort.
The cargo ship has been approached – apart from the frigate – by three merchant ships that were ready to evacuate the vessel if necessary, while the Greek authorities were examining the possibility of towing it to safety.
A Hellenic Air Force Super Puma helicopter also took part in the ongoing operation. The port of departure as well as the exact destination and the nationalities of those on board remained unknown at this time and may only be revealed after the rescue operation has been completed.
There was a large number of women and children aboard the "Baris".
The frigate’s commander, in cooperation with the competent authorities, decided that the best solution is towing the vessel to the nearest safe port or coast. Furthermore, the Greek island’s health services have been set in a state of emergency in order to nurse the passengers as soon as they have reached the coast.
Although, as long as their nationality remained unknown, none of them will disembark the ship unless their medical examination has been completed. The secretary general of the Public Order Ministry, Serafeim Tsokas, has also arrived in Crete, as he will be in charge of the immigrants’ rescue and accommodation operation.
The "Baris" with 700 immigrants from various countries went adrift 30 nautical miles southeast of Crete after a mechanical Problem on Nov 25, 2014.
Other ships and a frigate of the Hellenic Navy have reached the “Baris” in an attempt to rescue its passengers but the operation was very difficult due to heavy weather, as the wind blows with an intensity of seven to eight Beaufort.
The cargo ship has been approached – apart from the frigate – by three merchant ships that were ready to evacuate the vessel if necessary, while the Greek authorities were examining the possibility of towing it to safety.
A Hellenic Air Force Super Puma helicopter also took part in the ongoing operation. The port of departure as well as the exact destination and the nationalities of those on board remained unknown at this time and may only be revealed after the rescue operation has been completed.
There was a large number of women and children aboard the "Baris".
The frigate’s commander, in cooperation with the competent authorities, decided that the best solution is towing the vessel to the nearest safe port or coast. Furthermore, the Greek island’s health services have been set in a state of emergency in order to nurse the passengers as soon as they have reached the coast.
Although, as long as their nationality remained unknown, none of them will disembark the ship unless their medical examination has been completed. The secretary general of the Public Order Ministry, Serafeim Tsokas, has also arrived in Crete, as he will be in charge of the immigrants’ rescue and accommodation operation.