Greek authorities rescue practically 60 migrants on small boats in Aegean Sea

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities on Saturday rescued practically 60 migrants in inflatable dinghies attempting to cross from Turkey to the close by japanese Aegean Sea islands in two separate incidents, the coast guard stated.

In current weeks Greece has seen an increase in such arrivals, principally in small unseaworthy boats supplied by smugglers.

A coast guard assertion stated a patrol boat situated 41 individuals early Saturday on a drifting inflatable dinghy off the island of Lesbos. All had been safely evacuated and brought to a reception heart on the island.

Following a chase earlier Saturday, a coast guard patrol boat stopped one other dinghy carrying 17 individuals close to the japanese Aegean islets of Arkii. The migrants had been taken to the island of Patmos, whereas one among them was arrested on suspicion of belonging to a smuggling ring.

Greek officers have blamed the rise in arrivals largely on conflicts in Africa which can be including strain on the primary smuggling routes to Europe, and likewise on a burgeoning black market business in Turkey that produces low-quality inflatable boats. Higher summer time crusing situations have additionally contributed to the hike in numbers.

The Greek authorities says it has not modified its coverage of intercepting boats at sea which had considerably diminished arrivals of migrants lately.

Human rights teams have accused Greece of finishing up unlawful abstract deportations to Turkey of people that managed to succeed in Greek shores. Athens strongly denies that.

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Observe AP’s international migration protection at https://apnews.com/hub/migration