Greece rescues migrant boat adrift

ATHENS: A boat believed to be carrying hundreds of migrants was safely towed to the Greek island of Crete yesterday after a dramatic rescue complicated by near gale-force winds, the coastguard said.

The fishing boat docked in the small Cretan port of Palaiochora. The coastguard had earlier said up to 500 people were believed to be on board, based on the distress call they sent after midnight on Monday while sailing south of Crete.

A Greek navy frigate, two cargo ships, a tanker and two Italian fishing boats were dispatched to lend assistance to the vessel that was adrift in winds of over 30km/h, the coastguard said.