A dilapidated fishing boat filled with tons of of migrants that misplaced its steering and had been drifting within the wind-lashed Mediterranean south of the Greek island of Crete was efficiently towed to port on Tuesday, Greek authorities stated.

Greek migration minister Notis Mitarachi stated there have been about 400 folks on the vessel, down from his earlier estimate of 500. He stated it was not clear the place it had sailed from.

In a letter later to the European Commission, Mr Mitarachi requested that the migrants be relocated to different European Union nations in solidarity with Greece.

“We ask the Commission to immediately undertake and coordinate a relocation initiative in response to this (rescue) operation, ensuring the responsibility in saving lives at sea is fairly shared among” EU members, he wrote.

In the letter, which was made public by the migration ministry, he additionally stated EU international locations resembling Greece, the place many migrants first arrive earlier than continuing to wealthier members of the bloc, “cannot be expected to shoulder an ever-increasing burden out of proportion to their respective capacities”.

“Europe must prove that it is in a position to provide immediate and tangible solidarity” by transferring new arrivals to different EU international locations quicker and in better numbers than it has executed thus far, he stated.

Greece will present fast reduction for the passengers rescued on Tuesday, he stated.

The coast guard launched the most important rescue operation in a single day after receiving a misery name from what Mr Mitarachi in his letter described as a 30 metre fishing vessel.

A Greek navy frigate, a tanker, two cargo ships and two Italian fishing vessels took half however had been unable to switch passengers from the vessel as a result of dangerous climate.

Shipping minister Giannis Plakiotakis, who’s answerable for the coast guard, described the rescue effort as the biggest within the Mediterranean lately.

He congratulated the coast guard for efficiently finishing up the operation regardless of powerful climate situations.

The fishing boat was towed to the port of Palaiochora in south-eastern Crete. There had been no reviews of any accidents or lacking folks.