Search underway for three immigrants missing in Greek sea

Mar 22, 2011, 13:24 GMT

Athens - Coast guard officials were Tuesday combing the waters off the Greek Ionion island of Paxoi for signs of three illegal immigrants who fell into the sea during a rescue operation.

Some 113 illegal immigrants sailing on a wooden boat towards Italy issued distress calls after their boat began taking on water.

Three Greek coast guard vessels and a helicopter were immediately dispatched to the area just west of Paxoi where the boat was spotted by the cargo ship Alejandra, approximately 28 nautical miles west of the island.

The three immigrants were reported missing after they fell into the sea as they were being transferred from their sinking boat onto the cargo ship. The remaining people were successfully transferred from the small vessel.

The 30-metre long boat had set sail from the north-western Greek port town of Igouminitsa and was heading to Italy. Port authorities were alerted to the fact that the boat was beginning to take on water when someone on board called the coast guard.

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants try to enter Greece each year in an attempt to travel to other parts of Europe. The majority of fatal accidents involving migrants occur in the Aegean Sea, as migrants try to sail from Turkey to Greece.

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