ATHENS, Nov 27 (NNN-AMNA) – Thirteen crew members aboard a cargo vessel are missing, after the ship sank off the Aegean Sea island of Lesvos, yesterday.
One sailor was rescued by a Hellenic Navy helicopter and was taken to a local hospital.
The shipwreck occurred due to mechanical failure, while strong winds of 8 on the Beaufort scale (62-74 km per hour), were blowing in the area, the report said.
Early yesterday morning, the captain of the cargo ship reported a mechanical failure to the authorities. At about 8:20 a.m. (0620 GMT), the ship tilted and sent emergency calls to nearby ships, before disappearing from radar, reported local media, Greek Reporter.
The cargo ship flew the flag of the Comoros Islands and is operated by a Lebanese company. The company said that, the 14 crew members are from Egypt, Syria and India. The ship was carrying salt from Egypt to Istanbul.
The Greek Coast Guard and the local port authority dispatched helicopters and rescue ships to carry out the rescue operations.
Wind speed over the waters surrounding Lesvos was expected to rise up to 9 or 10 on the Beaufort scale an emergency weather.
