
Port authorities raised the alarm in the early hours of the morning after a Vanuatu-flagged cargo ship sank after hitting rocks north of Andros Island.
According to preliminary information, the ship, which was sailing from Albania to Ukraine and was transporting about 8,000 tons of soda, suffered severe damage after hitting the rocky area, leading to its sinking.
There were nine crew members on board, eight Turkish citizens and one Azerbaijani. All were successfully rescued thanks to an operation coordinated by the Coast Guard.
Two of the sailors were pulled from the sea by a patrol boat, while seven others were located and rescued in a difficult rocky area on Andros. They were then transported to the island's port, where they are reported to be in good health.
Several naval and aerial assets were involved in the rescue operation, including two Coast Guard vessels, two others in support, the passenger ship “Samos”, three passing vessels and an Air Force helicopter. Favorable weather conditions helped in the successful completion of the operation, while authorities have launched investigations to clarify the causes of the maritime accident.