Bulgarian border patrol boat rescued 44 migrants in distress near Lesvos island (Photos)

A Bulgarian sea border patrol boat rescued 44 migrants in distress off the Greek island of Lesvos, the Border Police said on February 9.

On the morning of February 7, the border patrol vessel “Balchik” received information about migrants in distress on the rocky island of Panagia, northeast of Lesbos. The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation. With two boats on board, the border guards headed to the rock where 10 children, 15 women and 19 men were in distress.

A total of 44 migrants were transported and put on board the boat “Balchik”. They were found to be undocumented and told the border police that they were from Afghanistan.

After the rescue operation, the migrants were dropped off at the port of Mytilini on the island of Lesvos for follow-up action by the Greek coastguard.

From 26 January, 2023 to 20 March, 2024, the Bulgarian border patrol vessel "Balchik" is deployed in Mytilini, Greece, to participate in the joint operation "Poseidon 2024", coordinated by Frontex.