EU Border Patrol Crew Rescued After Grounding and Sinking
\n \t
\n
<\/BR>
\n
\n \t
\n
<\/BR><\/p>\n
[Brief] <\/em>On Monday, a European border patrol vessel ran aground and sank off the coast of Lesvos, Greece during a search and rescue mission, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n At about 1800 hours on Monday evening, an unnamed Frontex rescue boat was engaged in a near-shore search for a group of migrants who had gone missing while attempting to reach shore. The migrants’ vessel had crossed over from Turkey to Lapsarna, Lesvos, and 36 survivors made it to shore; they informed the authorities that four migrants were unaccounted for.\u00a0<\/p>\n While searching for the missing migrants, in rough surface conditions, the Portuguese-crewed Frontex boat struck a rock. Its fiberglass hull was damaged, resulting in flooding and sinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n Six crewmembers from the vessel – five Portuguese and one Greek national – were rescued and brought safely to shore. The Lesvos port authority is investigating the circumstances of the casualty.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t
\n
<\/BR><\/p>\n