Greek coast guard says over 600 migrants rescued from 2 fishing boats
AP image
ATHENS: More than 600 migrants were rescued overnight and early Friday from two wooden fishing boats found sailing miles (kilometers) from the southernmost part of Greece, the country's coast guard said.
The first fishing boat, carrying 352 people, was spotted overnight about 30 nautical miles (35 miles, 55 kilometers) south of the tiny island of Gavdos, the coast guard said. Passengers were rescued by a ship from the European border patrol agency FRONTEX, aided by a coast guard patrol boat and four other vessels.
The second was found 50 nautical miles (about 60 miles, 90 kilometers) south of the island of Crete with 278 people on board.
The passengers were picked up by a passing Portuguese-flagged cargo ship. In both cases, the migrants were transported to Crete.
There was no immediate information on the nationalities of those on board the two fishing boats.
Another two boats carrying migrants were located in the same area on Thursday, the coast guard said. One, carrying 73 men, was found south of Gavdos and another with 26 people, including one woman and three minors, was found near the coast of southern Crete.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Install the Perfect Pool at Home – Start Here
Backyard Pool | Search Ads
Learn More
Undo
The coast guard said those on the smaller boat told authorities they had set sail the previous evening from Tobruk in Libya, and had each paid smugglers either 4,000 euros ($5,500) for their passage to Greece. Two Sudanese teenagers, one aged 16 and the other 19, were arrested on suspicion of migrant smuggling after other passengers identified them as having been operating the boat.
Greece has been on one of the preferred routes into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia for decades.
Arrivals from neighbouring Turkey to the east and the Libyan coast to the south spiked last year, with Greece recording more than 60,000 people arriving - the vast majority by sea - in 2024, compared to just over 48,000 the previous year, according to figures from the UN refugee agency.
As of June 15 this year, a total of 16,290 arrivals were recorded, with more than 14,600 of those by sea.
With authorities closely patrolling the eastern sea border with Turkey to prevent migrant boats reaching nearby Greek islands, smugglers appear to be increasingly opting for the much longer and riskier Mediterranean Sea crossing from the north African coast to the southern tip of Greece, using larger boats into which they can cram more people.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
'After the gun video?' Houston Texans signed cornerback Damon Arnette, who once brandished guns and threatened an unnamed individual's life
(Image via Getty Images: Damon Arnette) Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette comes with a lot of baggage. In November 2021, he shared a social media video where he brandished guns and threatened an unnamed individual's life. In January 2022, he got into an argument with two Las Vegas Strip casino valets about a receipt for parking his Mercedes SUV at the Park MGM Hotel. The argument escalated to a gruesome point where Arnette took out a .45-caliber handgun and threatened the two hotel valets. In February 2024, former Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette was arrested for possession of a drug(methamphetamine) and unlawful carrying of a firearm. It comes as no surprise for fans to respond with, 'After the gun video?' in reaction to the Houston Texans' recent post on X. Raiders Cornerback Damon Arnette threatening to kill fans in his dms! 'I wasn't a professional before, I was just a dawg,' admits disgraced sportsman Damon Arnette On May 17, 2025, Aaron Wilson, KPRC 2 Houston Texans Reporter, interviewed former Houston Roughnecks cornerback Damon Arnette. Arnette talked about his past and how his family and coaches at the Houston Roughnecks of the UFL helped him transform into a better player and a better person. Arnette shared, 'I'm 28 years old now right now with three kids, with a mom and dad that loves me and has my back right now. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz Superior Ginseng Undo With coaches, I feel like I've proved a complete turnaround. All the coaches that have been with me right now, I feel like their words would be more valuable because I've said a lot of things in the past. What I would say is what they see on film. That's me being out of commission for three years. I'm a dawg on the field. I'm more of a professional now than I ever was. I wasn't a professional before. I was just a dawg. I found professionalism and a calm state of mind. I feel like I'm the best version of myself that I've ever seen.' 'I had to take a look in the mirror,' says a reformed CB Damon Arnette before he was destined to sign with the Houston Texans Arnette further shared how he transformed himself while playing for the Roughnecks earlier this year, 'I had to take a look in the mirror. I had to make some serious life changes. And the main thing that I did was I invited back my support system, my foundation. I see how dangerous it is to be trying to navigate in a new world, new environment, new situations with no experience. So, I definitely learn from that end. I said to Coach (Curtis)Johnston - I needed him to tell me - No, that I couldn't play. That hurt my heart - you know what I'm saying? Because I'm thinking I'm doing everything right. But obviously, I wasn't because things just kept happening, and I had nobody to blame but myself. I'm always thankful for Coach C.J. and Coach Johnston. It was just a blessing to be here.' This transformation resulted in the NFL 's Houston Texans signing him! On June 20, 2025, the Texans announced via their X account, 'We have signed Damon Arnette and made another roster move.' Comments flew in at the speed of light. Check out some interesting ones below! 'Isn't this the guy who was showing off an AK on IG live,' commented a fan and other fans chimed in with their interesting responses I hope he's cleaned up his act. Bro was behaving like a thug. Even the coaches said they tried to help him but he wouldn't let them help him Houston you definitely do have a Problem Texans signing everybody!!! 😂😂😂 Yet another great example of the value of @TheUFL This guy is bad news!! Houston, don't do it! Isn't this the guy who was showing off an AK on IG live 😭 Texans desperate to field any DBs at this point Roughnecks ➡️ Texans Arnette gets a second chance in the NFL and he's staying put in Houston! Deserves another chance, and he's getting a one with a good team Houston, you have a problem… and not the good kind, either. Hope he stays out of trouble this time Good luck Damon. You didn't do much of anything for the Raiders. Hopefully you have matured and can focus on football. Also Read: 'Acknowledging me before you drool all over my husband': Kylie Kelce forewarns fans to not post any drool comments on naked Jason Kelce tattoo | NFL News - Times of India Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Minnesota state senator, wife were shot 17 times; cops reveal how a hunch and mistake led to shooter's arrest
Last weekend, two state lawmakers from Minnesota were gunned down in their homes in what Governor Tim Walz called a " politically motivated assassination " attempt. The attacks left one politician dead and the other seriously injured. The suspect, identified as Vance Luther Boelter, was taken into custody in rural woodland after a day-long manhunt. He has been charged with multiple counts of murder at the state and federal level. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife made a startling revelation that they were shot a total of 17 times by the masked gunman. Recalling the heart-pounding attack, Hoffman stated that the attacker then "assassinated' another state lawmaker and her husband. Hoffman was home with his wife, Yvette, and their daughter Hope after a Democratic fundraising dinner when they were 'awakened by the sounds of pounding on the front door and shouts of someone seeking entry, identifying himself as a police officer' around 2 a.m. Saturday, they told KARE 11. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo ALSO READ: Trump to skip Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez's star-studded Venice wedding? What you need to know They opened the door to find a man pointing a gun at them. 'All three of us were in the entryway. John initially lunged at the gunman as the weapon was pointed directly at him, getting struck nine times,' the Hoffmans said. Live Events 'As John fell, Yvette reached out to push the man and shut the door, succeeding before she was also hit eight times by gunfire,' the statement said. Their daughter, Hope, slammed and locked the door and immediately called 911, they said. Boelter, 57, fled the scene. He made the short drive to Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman's Brooklyn Park home, where he shot and killed her, her husband and the family dog, according to police. ALSO READ: Katy Perry-Orlando Bloom have broken up? Shocking report claims couple had explosive fight over 'cringeworthy' space flight How the Minnesota shooter evaded police The accused Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter's alleged plan to kill more politicians on his hit list was foiled by police's sergeant's proactive hunch. His capture came after he made a big misstep that exposed his whereabouts to an eagle-eyed neighbor, authorities said. The gunman had a long hit list with 70 names of targets, which were largely Democrats or figures with ties to Planned Parenthood or abortion rights, police said. A massive 43‑hour manhunt culminated in the arrest of 57‑year‑old Vance Boelter, accused of assassinating Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. ALSO READ: Amazon's one-month deadline to US employees amid mass layoff fear: Resign in 60 days or... Authorities say the plot was foiled thanks to a Brooklyn Park police sergeant's hunch, which led officers to conduct a welfare check at the Hortmans' home just as Boelter—dressed in a realistic police uniform and latex mask—arrived and opened fire. While fleeing the scene, Boelter abandoned his vehicle, revealing a trove of weapons, ammunition, body armor, a 9 mm Beretta, and a notebook listing over 45 Democratic officials—including Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar—along with detailed surveillance notes, reported ABC News. A key misjudgment occurred Sunday evening when Boelter attempted to return to his Green Isle farm, where law enforcement had already converged. An alert neighbor spotted him hiding in a field and alerted authorities. Captured on camera by a trail cam, Boelter eventually crawled toward officers and surrendered without incident. Investigators continue to examine his motives and whether anyone aided him. Boelter remains in custody, facing both state and federal charges.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Shock in Rampur: Father of six marries his minor son's bride-to-be
In a bizarre turn of events from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, a man named Shakeel reportedly married the woman who was originally chosen to be his 15-year-old son's bride. According to Shakeel's wife, Shabana, he developed feelings for the young woman while visiting her home during the wedding discussions and began communicating with her over the phone frequently. Shabana, a mother of six children with Shakeel, claimed that she suspected the affair early on and even caught them together on two separate occasions. "He would spend the entire day on video calls with her. Initially, no one believed me, but eventually, my son and I gathered proof," she said. After discovering his father's affair, the teenage son reportedly refused to go through with the marriage. He further alleged that his grandparents were aware of the situation and even supported Shakeel in marrying the woman. The son also accused Shakeel of taking Rs 2 lakh in cash and around 17 grams of gold from the family before marrying her. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Throw This Bedroom Item Away (Here's Why) Blissy Learn More Undo In a similar incident that made headlines earlier this year, a woman in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly eloped with her daughter's fiancé. The woman, Anita, reportedly fled with Rahul, who was supposed to marry her daughter Shivani on April 16. The duo eloped on April 6, just days before the wedding. Shivani said her mother had been talking frequently with Rahul for the past three to four months. She also claimed that Anita took over ₹3.5 lakh in cash and jewellery worth ₹5 lakh from their home before leaving. Live Events Shivani's father, Jitendra Kumar, who works in Bengaluru, admitted he had heard about the unusual closeness between Anita and Rahul but chose not to intervene, assuming the wedding would go ahead as planned.
