Cargo ship sinks off Greece coast, rescue operation underway: Analysis

A cargo ship carrying 14 crew members and a load of salt has sunk off the coast of Lesbos island in Greece due to high-speed winds causing it to tilt and take on water. The Comoros-flagged ship Raptor was en route from Dekheila, Egypt to Istanbul when it sank 4.5 nautical miles southwest of Lesbos early on Sunday. The Greek coastguard, along with five cargo ships, three coast guard vessels, air force and navy helicopters, and a navy frigate, are conducting a rescue operation to search for the crew members. So far, only one crew member has been rescued and taken to Lisbon General Hospital for treatment. The ship initially reported a mechanical failure followed by a Mayday distress call, after which it disappeared from the radar. Authorities believe that the heavy load contributed to the ship listing and sinking once it took on water. The operating company of the ship, based in Lebanon, has stated that the crew members include Syrian, Indian, and Egyptian nationals. The incident occurred during a period of strong winds, with wind speeds reaching 9-10 on the Beaufort scale in Greece. The Hellenic National Meteorological Service issued an emergency weather warning, upgrading it to “dangerous weather phenomena” as Storm Oliver moved toward Greece. The country has experienced repeated flooding in recent months due to a series of storms, including Storm Daniel, which caused extensive damage in Central Greece.

Source: Aljazeera news: Rescue operation under way after cargo ship sinks off Greece coast