Athens, Oct 11:A group of 75 migrants crossing to Europe from North Africa has been rescued from a crippled boat south of the island of Crete, Greek authorities said Friday. The coast guard said the migrants, who are believed to have set off from eastern Libya, were picked up in the Mediterranean Sea by a merchant ship after issuing a distress call. The vessel, escorted by a coast guard patrol boat, was taking them to a port in southern Crete. People who have completed the crossing told Greek authorities they paid smuggling gangs up to 9,000 euros ($9,800) each for the passage. The crossing from Libya takes at least two days, while a fast smuggling boat from Turkey can reach the eastern islands in well under an hour, provided it can dodge frequent coast guard patrols.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 11, 2024 16:48 UTC