A migrant boat capsized off the coast of Kos on Sunday morning. According to a statement from the Hellenic Coast Guard, a patrol vessel arrived at the scene and "found that one of the inflatable chambers on the boat had been damaged, causing all those on board to fall into the sea." All 23 people were rescued.

The Coast Guard reported that the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday. As their patrol vessel approached the inflatable motorboat carrying the migrants, they noticed damage to the vessel, which led to the passengers ending up in the water.

More specifically, the statement reads:

“A Coast Guard boat, which was on a scheduled patrol, spotted the inflatable motorboat carrying foreign nationals near the coast of Agios Fokas, on the island of Kos. As the vessel approached, damage to the left inflatable chamber was observed, resulting in all occupants falling into the sea. The crew of the patrol boat immediately carried out a rescue operation, safely recovering all 23 individuals. Two additional Coast Guard vessels were also dispatched to assist.”

The rescued migrants were taken safely to Kos port. Meanwhile, another individual was found on land in the Agios Fokas area, having apparently reached the shore by swimming.

In total, 24 migrants were accounted for – 21 men, 2 women, and a young girl. They were taken to the Reception and Identification Centre on Kos.

An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Kos Port Authority. The boat carrying the migrants has since sunk.

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