Migrants rescued from deserted islet

160 illegal immigrants were rescued yesterday from a deserted island off the coast of Milos, south Aegean. Consisting of an all-male crew, these people had been shipwrecked on the uninhabited islet of Ananes, 10 miles to the south-west of Milos island. Except for 5 of them who were suffering minor injuries and hypothermia, all the rest were in good health.
The Merchant Marine Ministry that carried out the air-lift rescue operation have not determined whether the people aboard were smugglers or those seeking entry to the Greek mainland illegally. The nationalities of the people were not disclosed. Coast guards have arrested more than 3,000 illegal migrants and 150 smugglers in the past 4 years.