On 23 March 2020 at 17.25 p.m., it was reported that a group of irregular migrants needed assistance off the coast of Muğla’s Datça district.
CG boat dispatched to the area immediately. There were 31 irregular migrants (16 men, 4 women and 11 children) who were forced to get on board a lifeboat (not a sea vessel, just used in order to leave the ships/boats) and were pushed back towards Turkish territorial waters. They were rescued by CG boat.
According to the statements of the rescued migrants, they were forced to get on board a life boat from Sömbeki Island and left to be dragged in the middle of the sea by Greek Coast Guard boat.