Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 31st of March 2018

Case name: 2018_03_31-AEG362
Situation: 12 travellers rescued to Greece after being stuck for days at at the Turkish / Greek border
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea

Summary of the Case: On Saturday the 31st of March, at 3.26pm, the Alarm Phone shift team was alerted by a contact person to a group of 12 travellers, including four children, stuck at the Turkish / Greek border close to the river Evros. The contact person forwarded us the travellers’ phone number, and a position showing that they were close to the Greek town Petrades. At 4.45pm we called the local Greek police, and passed on the information we had, and when we spoke to them again an hour later, they confirmed that they were looking for the travellers. Later, at 9.03pm we spoke to the Greek police again. They told us that they were still searching for the travellers, but that it was difficult, as the area around the river was flooded. At 9.08pm we also called the local Turkish military. They promised to inform the local police as well, and encouraged the travellers to call the emergency number, which would direct them to the appropriate rescue authorities. At 10.51pm we called the Greek police to ask if there were any news, and they informed us that they had still no found the travellers. Throughout the night we were not able to reach the travellers, but the following morning at 10.20am we spoke to the Greek police again, and they confirmed that the travellers had been brought to the police station in Greece.