The Libyan Rescue Chamber announced the arrival of 280 individuals on the Greek island of Crete after they departed from the Libyan coast and the breakdown of their four boats at sea.
The Chamber reported receiving four distress calls from four boats in the early hours of today, after they had set off from Tobruk bound for Crete.
The organization stated that the four vessels were in a very dangerous condition. It also noted tracking a fifth boat that had not sent a distress call but appeared on radar moving from Tobruk towards Greece.
One of the boats, carrying 50 people, had its engine fail and began taking on water. The Libyan Rescue Chamber criticized the delayed response from the Greek Coast Guard to these emergencies.
Separately, the General Directorate of Coastal Security announced early Saturday that it had rescued a fishing boat that broke down off the coast of Tajoura after receiving a distress call reporting engine failure amidst high sea waves.