Case name: 2020_07_06-AEG687
Situation: 28 travelers (10 women, 13 children (two of the children disabled) in distress in Turkish waters, their boat cut by Turkish or Greek authorities, brought back to Turkey.
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea

Summary of the Case:

On 6th of July, the Alarm Phone was called by the relative of a person on a boat in distress near Lesvos. She reported about 28 persons, among them 10 women, 13 children (two of the children disabled). We received a GPS location in Turkish waters and a phone number from the persons on board. The relative also reported that the Turkish and the Greek coastguards were on scene, but not acting to carry out a rescue. The coastguard had cut a hole into the rubber boat, so that water was entering as she reported. We tried to contact the travelers directly but could not get through. At 14:35h CEST, we informed the Turkish coastguard. We also sent them an e-mail with our information, including GPS location and phone number of the group. At 16:00h CEST, we called again the Turkish authorities, asking for the process of the rescue operation. They informed us about a group of approximately 30 persons, who had been rescued and brought to Çanakkale, Turkey. From then on, we could not contact the travelers directly, and the relative did not have more information either. At 18:00h we called the Turkish authorities again, and they confirmed the rescue of 28 travelers, who at that moment, were at the police station of Çanakkale.