Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 2nd of June 2020

Case name: 2020_06_02-AEG673
Situation: two boats with ~85 people were reportedly pushed back by Greek and pulled back by Turkish coast guard
Status of WTM Investigation: concluded
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea

Summary of the Case:
On 2nd of June 2020 the Alarm Phone was called at 11:10h CEST by travellers on a boat in the Aegean Sea. The travellers stated to be in the water since 4 hours. 10 minutes later they sent a GPS position showing them in Greek waters. The Alarm Phone learned that their engine was cut and the fuel stolen, pictures showed the destroyed engine as well as a vessel of the Greek coast guard nearby and another boat with travellers. The travellers on the phone stated that a vessel of what they assumed to be the Greek coast guard had come and cutted the cable and stole the fuel. At 11:43h the Alarm Phone called the Greek coast guard to forward the information about the boat in distress. An email was sent later on also to the UNHCR in Greece and Turkey. One hour later the Alarm Phone called RSC Mytilene to ask for updates. RSC Mytilene stated that the Turkish coast guard is rescuing one boat at the moment and will continue with the second boat as well. When Alarm Phone told them about the fact that the boats have been in Greek waters they said this must have been false information. At 14:33h the Turkish coast guard was called who gave the information that two boats with in total 85 people have been rescued. They also gave the information that the Greek coast guard had transferred the travellers in Turkish waters. The boats were brought to Ҫanakkale.
We are still investigating the detailed developments and will include potential updates into this report.

Twitter chronology:
12:32h https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1267766068375928834
13:12h https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1267776119320739840
15:06h https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1267804833303625729