Greece rescues 30 migrants after boat sinks off Kythira island

Greek authorities rescued thirty migrants whose boat was submerged in stormy waters off the island of Kythira.

To save around 100 migrants aboard the vessel, authorities launched a rescue and search operation.

"Thirty-one people have been saved so far." According to a coastguard official, the operation continues despite adverse weather conditions. The area was experiencing strong winds.

The boat carrying migrants had crashed into a rock area and was subsequently destroyed. A Greek navy helicopter and a coastguard vessel joined the rescue effort.

The coastguard didn't provide any additional information about possible casualties or the nationality and origin of the migrants.

Kythira, an island located opposite the southeast tip of the Peloponnese Peninsula is called.

In 2015 and 2016, Greece was at the forefront of Europe's refugee crisis. A million refugees fled war and poverty in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, mostly via Turkey.

Although the number of migrants has declined sharply in recent years, there are still attempts to enter the country via sea through its islands.

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