Greek Coastguard Rescues 142 Migrants off of Crete

The Greek coastguard on Tuesday rescued 142 migrants off the island of Crete after their boat began to take on water, officials and reports said.

According to the Athens News Agency, the coastguard rescued 77 men, 24 women and 38 children of Syrian and Afghan origin.

"They have disembarked at the port of Ierapetra (in southeastern Crete) and have been taken to an indoor gym, no injuries were reported," a spokeswoman for the Merchant Marine Ministry told Agence France Presse.

She did not identify the migrants' nationalities.

The coastguard on the south of the island said the migrants had raised the alarm by radio early on Tuesday, after their boat began to take on water.

Several boats were involved in the rescue operation that followed.

Greece has become a major port of entry for immigrants trying to get into Europe.

Many enter the country via Turkey and then try to continue their journey westwards through the European Union.

The discovery of the migrants off the coast of Greece comes just a day after Pope Francis, during a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, criticized the world's "indifference" to the plight of African emigrants who cross the Mediterranean "looking for a better life".