Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 17th of October 2018Case name: 2018_10_17-AEG443
Situation: Distress situation in the Aegean Sea
Status of WTM Investigation: Closed
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea
Summary of the Case: On Wednesday the 17th of October 2018, the Alarm Phone assisted two boats in distress in the Aegean Sea. One was returned to Turkey, the second one rescued to Greece.
Boat 1: At 7.58pm CET, our shift team received a GPS position of a boat in distress in the Aegean Sea with 10 people on board. The position showed them still in Turkish waters. The person passing on the information stated that they were in serious distress and the Turkish coastguards should be notified immediately. After we were not able to reach the boat directly, we called the Turkish authorities at 8.15pm and informed them about the situation. A few minutes later we were able to reach the boat directly. They told us that they were in severe distress. We received a new GPS position at 8.23pm and passed it on to the Turkish coastguards at 8.25pm. The coastguards confirmed that they had sent a rescue vessel to the position of the boat. From 8.30pm onward, we were in frequent contact with the boat and we assisted them in staying calm while awaiting rescue. At 8.52pm, our initial contact person confirmed their rescue by the Turkish coastguards and we received the same information by the coastguards at 9.42pm.
Boat 2: At 9.16pm, our shift team received information via a contact person about a boat moving to Kos Island/Greece, carrying about 15 people, including children. Shortly after we received their GPS position, showing them already close to the island. We reached the people on the boat at 9.27pm. The situation was distressing, with many children crying and people being very anxious. We informed the Greek coastguards at 9.20pm and passed on all the information we had received. They promised to search for the boat. We then stayed in touch with the boat, informing them about the rescue procedures and asking them to stay calm. We received a new position at 9.30pm which we passed on to the Greek authorities – and while doing so the people on the boat stated that they could see the vessel of the Greek coastguards. Our contact person shortly afterwards confirmed their rescue to Kos Island.
Last update: 11:35 Oct 28, 2018
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