The operations were coordinated by Greece’s search and rescue coordination centre (EKSED) after the vessels were detected by Frontex aircraft.
In the first operation, a Frontex aircraft spotted 43 refugees and migrants aboard a dinghy approximately 20 nautical miles south of Gavdos. A Frontex vessel was dispatched to the area and rescued those on board.
A few hours later, a second operation was launched in the same sea area after a Frontex aircraft detected two more boats carrying a total of around 88 people.
EKSED again coordinated the operation, with a Frontex vessel rescuing the refugees and migrants from the two boats.
Around 131 people were rescued in total during the two operations. They were initially taken to the port of Paleochora before being transferred to the temporary accommodation facility in Agia, Chania.
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