Eighteen people in total, including three children, were rescued Thursday safe and sound by the Greek authorities after the sinking of a yacht off the island of Milos in the Aegean Sea, we learned from the guards -Greek coasts.
Initially the coast guard had indicated that there were 17 people who fell in the water after their yacht sank.
"Eighteen castaways, all Greeks"
"The 18 castaways, all Greeks, are safe and sound and were transferred to the island of Milos aboard a liner," an official from the coastguard press office told AFP.
Three patrol boats, a liner and two helicopters took part in the rescue operation supported by two helicopters including one from the Greek Air Force, according to the same source.
A liner was chartered to retrieve the castaways, the coast guard said, stressing that a cargo ship sailing in the area as well as an air force plane had also participated in the operation, according to the coast guard. .
Strong winds of 40 km / h
The British flagged yacht Acvitannia was 28 meters long, according to initial reports, with strong winds of 40 km / h (6 Beaufort) blowing in the area where the sinking took place on Thursday, 16 nautical miles from Milos, near the islet of Antimilos.
The Greek island of Milos is located in the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea, south-east of Athens, a popular tourist destination in summer.
The sinking of the yacht took place near a maritime area called Falconera known for the sinking of the ferry "Heraklion" which occurred in December 1966 and which left 273 dead.
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