Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 21st of April 2022

Case name: 2022_04_21-EM885

Situation: 23 travellers in Greek SAR, pushed-back then rescued to Izmir by Turkish Coastguard

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Eastern Med

Summary of the Case:

In the very early morning of the 21st of April 2022, Alarm Phone received a call by a worried relative, alerting us to a group of 4 women- including one who was pregnant, 4 children and 15 men in distress who had departed from Turkey. The caller told us that the boat was in danger and needed help, we directly contacted the boat who gave us their position (in the Greek SAR zone) and asked for help. So immediately contacted the Hellenic Coastguards at 03:47 CET and relayed the information. At 4:30 CET we called back the Hellenic Coastguard who argued that the boat is in Turkish waters and not their responsibility. So we called the Turkish Coastguard who said its no their responsibility because the boat is in Greek waters, and that there are Greek Coastguard boats in the vicinity. At 07:20 CET we received a call from the travellers telling us that one woman has given birth on the boat, and another person fell over the side of the boat, they desperately needed rescuing.

We called Hellenic Coastguard again with this information, but they say they are investigating. At 13:40 CET we get news from Turkish Coastguard that they have picked up all 23 travellers.

Twitter/news link: https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1517022954047082496

https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/status/1517120924419608581

https://www.sg.gov.tr/izmir-aciklarinda-23-duzensiz-gocmen-kurtarilmistir-22-04-22-