More than 200 migrants rescued off Crete at dawn

Three successive search-and-rescue operations involving migrants were carried out in the early hours of Wednesday off the Greek island of Crete, with about 218 people rescued from three boats.

The operations took place in waters south and southwest of Ierapetra and were coordinated by Greece's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC).

According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, a Frontex unmanned aircraft spotted the first boat, carrying around 71 people, about 15 nautical miles southwest of Ierapetra. Those on board were rescued by a passing Malta-flagged tanker and taken to the port of Kaloi Limenes.

In the same area, a second boat carrying around 70 people was located. They were rescued by a Coast Guard patrol vessel and also taken to Kaloi Limenes.

A short time later, a Frontex unmanned aircraft spotted a third boat carrying around 77 people, about 50 nautical miles south of Ierapetra.

A passing Denmark-flagged cargo ship took part in the operation, rescuing those on board and transporting them to the port of Ierapetra.