Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 02nd of September 2022
Case name: 2022_09_02-Eastern Med - 991 Situation: 58 people pushed back from North of Crete to Turkey
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded Place of Incident: Eastern Med

Summary of the Case:
In the night of September 2nd, Alarm Phone was informed by relatives about a boat in distress North of Crete. We immediately contacted the people on the boat and managed to establish communication. The people in distress informed us that their engine was broken and that they had already been at sea for three days. We alert the Greek authorities by mail and phone. Their reply was only „we are investigating“, which was an alarming sign, as they usually say this while they prepare a pushback operation. The weather conditions were harsh and there were no life jackets on the boat. The people on the boat were urgently calling for help.
During the night, the people reported that several boats were surrounding them, producing waves and in doing so, further endangering their situation. They sent photos showing boats in the dark of the night, shining spotlights on the travellers. We send several updates to authorities and call them several times. Still their only response was: „we are investigating“.
Meanwhile, the people reported that their boat started to take water in. At 7:25 CEST on September 3rd, we receive an updated GPS position that shows the boat 25 km North of Crete. The people also called the international emergency number 112 several times – with no result. We are in constant exchange with several relatives, who were all very worried about their loved ones and called for assistance. At 09:12 CEST the Alarm Phone shift team speaks to the officer on duty of JRCC Piraeus. The officer informed us that they spoke to the people a few minutes ago. When we asked if they launch a rescue operation, he hung up the phone. Throughout the morning we send several updates to authorities, including exact GPS locations. At 10:38 CEST the shift team calls JRCC Piraeus again, asking why they are not rescuing the boat when they clearly found them and their engine is not working? The officer answered that it is a sailing boat and they don't need an engine. When we explained that the people on board don't know how to sail a sailing boat because the captain left, the officer laughed and hung up.
Shortly after, we lost contact with the people. The relatives also became unable to reach their loved ones and were really worried. At 12:40 CEST, after hours without contact, our shift team managed to re-establish communication. The people told us that a boat is coming, with men carrying weapons on board. The boat was grey, and the men on the boat were masked. Then we once again lost contact. At 16:30 CEST we call the Hellenic Coast Guard once again. The officer claims there was no boat found so far. When the previous communication with them was brought up, and when we reminded them of the information shared by the travellers, the officer just hangs up.
It was not until the afternoon of September 4th that we receive further information. The Turkish Coast Guard informs us on the phone that they found a group of 58 people in three life rafts who were pushed back by Greek authorities. They were on their way to Italy in a white sailing boat. Relatives also confirm the pushback.

Tweets:
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1565953597518520321?t=iIE1YdR2cuxgVwQqb1hkDQ&s=19
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1566017697569284099
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1566017821305438213
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1566018017921744896
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1566018170921549825
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1566060168185618434
https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1566420221874823168