Latest news with #rescue
CTV News
33 minutes ago
- CTV News
Greek coast guard says over 600 migrants rescued from 2 fishing boats
Frontex, foreground, and Greek coast guard vessels take part in a search and rescue operation off the coast on the northeastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos, Greece, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas) ATHENS, Greece — More than 600 migrants were rescued overnight and early Friday from two wooden fishing boats found sailing 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 kilometres) 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 kilometres) 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. 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 (US$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 neighboring 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 U.N. 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. ___ Elena Becatoros, The Associated Press
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The not-so-great escape: Moment inmate is found wedged in a concrete wall and has to be dug out after spending two days trying to tunnel out of his cell
This is the moment an inmate was found wedged in a concrete wall during a bungled escape attempt in Brazil. Alan Leandro da Silva, 29, reportedly spent two days using tools to dig the opening which had gone unnoticed in his cell at the prison in Rio Branco, Acre. Believing the hole he had carved was wide enough, da Silva appears to have sensed freedom and tried to slip through - only to find himself quickly lodged in the concrete. Guards foiled the attempted escape after seeing movement in the man's cell on Monday, June 16, before calling firefighters to help free him. The astonishing footage shows the inmate, whose upper body had started to strain from dangling over the floor, being drilled out of the wall from behind by rescuers. With tattoos on his back, the 32-year-old can be seen leaning on a blue chair with the concrete gripped around his torso. Officers said they had to be careful not to injure him as he was shirtless, and managed to extract the prisoner unharmed. A fire department spokesman said: 'According to the inmate's own account, the hole was dug for two days using a nail and a broomstick. 'However, during the escape attempt, he was trapped inside the opening. 'In view of the situation, Criminal Police called the Fire Department to carry out the rescue. 'After thorough work, the rescue team was able to successfully release the victim who was safely handed over to the Criminal Police team that was already on standby at the scene.' Local reports say the man was quizzed by officers who are investigating the escape attempt and the damage caused to public property. Prison officials did not clarify how the man came to acquire the tools or how the hole in the wall went unnoticed. He was also given first aid before being hauled back into his cell which he shares with other inmates, who according to local reports, assisted him.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Greek coast guard says over 600 migrants rescued from 2 fishing boats
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — 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. 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 neighboring 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 U.N. 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. ___ Follow AP's coverage of migration issues at
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Crying eight-week-old otter found near river
A crying eight-week-old baby otter abandoned by a river was "growing stronger every day" following his rescue, a charity said. UK Wild Otter Trust said a passerby found Scratch crying by the River Fynn near Ipswich, weighing 0.5kg (1.1lb) on 26 May. When one of the rescuers scooped up the cub, he was scratched in the process, which gave the inspiration for the otter's name. Dave Webb, the charity's founder, said: "Scratch was cold, hungry, and confused, but he was also a fighter!" The cub was spotted by walkers when he was heard crying from afar and was in a distressed state. Originally, the members of the public left him there in case his mother came back, but later they returned to rescue him. He was then passed over to the UK Wild Otter Trust. Mr Webb said: "With warmth, food, and round-the-clock care, he's already growing stronger every day." The charity said Scratch has now tripled in weight with a tailored rehabilitation plan, and it was hoped he would be returned to the wild. Scratch was the eighth otter rescue the charity had made this year. Otters are protected by law, and it is illegal to hunt, trap or disturb them, according to the UK Wild Otter Trust. In recent years, new threats have emerged affecting otters, including road traffic accidents, habitat destruction, being captured in fishing nets and increased use of pesticides in farming. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'We've been rescuing and rehoming cats for 100 years' Rare otter filmed swimming in town centre park Dog rescued from underground pipe by firefighters
BBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Crying baby otter rescued by Ipswich river
A crying eight-week-old baby otter abandoned by a river was "growing stronger every day" following his rescue, a charity said. UK Wild Otter Trust said a passerby found Scratch crying by the River Fynn near Ipswich, weighing 0.5kg (1.1lb) on 26 one of the rescuers scooped up the cub, he was scratched in the process, which gave the inspiration for the otter's name. Dave Webb, the charity's founder, said: "Scratch was cold, hungry, and confused, but he was also a fighter!" The cub was spotted by walkers when he was heard crying from afar and was in a distressed state. Originally, the members of the public left him there in case his mother came back, but later they returned to rescue him. He was then passed over to the UK Wild Otter Trust. Mr Webb said: "With warmth, food, and round-the-clock care, he's already growing stronger every day."The charity said Scratch has now tripled in weight with a tailored rehabilitation plan, and it was hoped he would be returned to the wild. Scratch was the eighth otter rescue the charity had made this year. Otters are protected by law, and it is illegal to hunt, trap or disturb them, according to the UK Wild Otter recent years, new threats have emerged affecting otters, including road traffic accidents, habitat destruction, being captured in fishing nets and increased use of pesticides in farming. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
