Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations - 11th of August 2015

Case name: 2015_08_11-AEG37
Situation: Vessel in distress after a yet unidentified group took away petrol and engine, rescued by Turkey
Status of WTM Investigations: Ongoing
Place of Incidents: Aegean Sea

Summary of the case: On Tuesday the 11th of August, at about 7am, the Alarm Phone received a call from a person located in Sweden who informed our shift team about a vessel in distress in the Aegean Sea. She forwarded a number of one of the travellers and said that authorities had approached the vessel and taken away their engine. We immediately turned to the travellers with whom, at first, it was difficult to establish clear communications. At about 8am, an Arabic speaking member of the Alarm Phone spoke to the group at sea and was informed that there were 45 people on board, one of which was sick and required medical attention. They said that they were already close to Greece but reported that their engine and petrol had been taken away.

Shortly afterwards they said that a vessel was approaching them, presumably to rescue them. Afterwards, the connection could not be re-established. In the early evening, we were able to speak to our initial contact person in Sweden. She said that they had been rescued by Turkish authorities and were in a detention centre in Izmir. We were then able to communicate with the travellers who asked for support as they feared to be deported from Turkey. We told them that we would reach out to local human rights groups and ask for their assistance. We found out later on about the group’s release. Some stated that their money had been taken away from them, leaving them in a precarious situation.