Ship with 700 migrants safely towed to Greek coast

A Greek Red Cross volunteer lays out mattresses inside an indoor basketball stadium where authorities plan to temporarily host some 700 migrants on a crippled freighter being towed to the southern Cretan port town of Ierapetra, Greece, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. Hampered by gale-force winds, a Greek navy frigate was expected to arrive in Ierapetra late Wednesday with the migrants, believed to include refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) A Greek Red Cross volunteer lays out mattresses inside an indoor basketball stadium where authorities plan to temporarily host some 700 migrants on a crippled freighter being towed to the southern Cretan port town of Ierapetra, Greece, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. Hampered by gale-force winds, a Greek navy frigate was expected to arrive in Ierapetra late Wednesday with the migrants, believed to include refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

By Associated Press November 27, 2014 1 min read

IERAPETRA, Greece (AP) – Officials say a broken-down smuggling ship carrying 700 men, women and children trying to emigrate to Europe has been safely towed to just off the southern Greek island of Crete.

Authorities there are preparing to provide the migrants with temporary shelter.

The 77-meter (250-foot) Baris cargo ship appeared off the coastal town of Ierapetra around sunrise Thursday, still attached by cable to a Greek navy frigate that has been towing it for a day and a half through gale-force winds.

The Baris lost engine power early Tuesday 70 nautical miles from Ierapetra. Its passengers include refugees from war-riven Syria and Afghanistan.

The ship is expected to anchor offshore, and the migrants will be ferried in small groups to Ierapetra where authorities have set up a reception center in an indoor basketball stadium.