Cargo ship M/V RAPTOR sank off Mtylini Island in Aegean, 13 missing

A sailor from the cargo ship  RAPTOR, which sank off the coast of Lesbos, was located and rescued alive by a navy helicopter.

It was noted that the cargo ship, with 14 crew members on board, reported a machinery malfunction at around 07:00 in the morning.

At 8:20 the ship's captain activated the "imday, mayday" distress signal to passing ships, reporting some yawing and then disappearing from radar.

The ship named RAPTOR was going from Egypt to Istanbul with a cargo of salt.

Estimates indicate that water poured into the holds, possibly due to strong waves (the strong northwest winds of 8 Beaufort dominate in this particular sea region), causing it to tilt and sink due to the heavier load.

Greek coast guard units continue their rescue operations 4 nautical miles from the coast of Lesbos.

Currently, 5 cargo ships, 3 ships of the port, a helicopter belonging to the air force and the navy, as well as a frigate of the navy have been put into operation.

The crew includes two Syrians, four Indians and eight Egyptians.

Former name of the ship called Raptor is İlyas Kalkavan.

The ship was built in 1984 and is 106 meters long.