Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 05th of October 2015

Case name: 2015_10_05-AEG90
Situation: 5 distress calls in the Aegean Sea, near the Greek islands of Chios and Lesvos
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea

Summary of the Cases: On Monday the 5th of October 2015 the Alarm Phone dealt with five situations of distress in the Aegean Sea, near the Greek islands of Chios and Lesvos. While the Greek coastguard rescued one vessel, in one case the Turkish coastguard conducted a rescue operation and in three cases the travellers were able to move on independently.

At 2am a contact person informed us about a boat in distress with 40 travellers on board on their way to Lesvos (case 1). The contact person had already informed the Turkish coastguard, who had told her that a rescue operation was on its way. After some unsuccessful attempts we spoke to the travellers at 2.30am. Their boat was in bad condition, but at 2.45am another contact person confirmed to us, that the Turkish coastguard had rescued the boat.

In the afternoon, the Facebook group Save Refugees on their way to Europe forwarded to us the coordinates of a boat in distress north of the Greek island of Lesvos and later on also two numbers of this boat (case 2). As the boat was still close the Turkish coast, the group had already informed the Turkish coastguard. However, the coastguard had claimed, that they had already rescued a boat at this position. As the group had evidence that the boat in question was not yet rescued, the Alarm Phone took over the case. We received new coordinates that showed the boat 2.3 kilometres south on its way to Lesvos. In the following hours the Alarm Phone continuously tried to establish contact to the boat. At 11pm we got confirmation from the travellers that they had safely reached Lesvos on their own.

In the evening several contact persons informed the Alarm Phone about a boat in distress with 40 travellers on board 2 kilometres east of Lesvos (case 3). One of the contact persons had already alerted the Greek coastguard. About one hour later, we received confirmation from all contact persons, that the Greek coastguard had rescued the boat in distress.

In two further cases we were informed about vessels in distress that faced engine problems (cases 4 + 5). In both cases, in the end, the travellers reached the Greek islands of Chios and Lesvos independently.