A search and rescue operation for refugees and migrants has been ongoing since early morning in the water area east of the city of Mister.

At the moment, two dead have been recovered and 24 people who were on an inflatable boat have been rescued, and one person is missing.

According to the Coast Guard, the vessel was first detected by a Frontex thermal imaging camera and then by a patrol vessel that arrived on the scene.

The crew of a Coast Guard patrol boat safely rescued 24 people, as well as two bodies, a woman and a man, with the help of a second patrol boat that arrived on the scene.

According to rescuers, there were 27 people on board the boat.

The area is being investigated by four Coast Guard patrol ships and the Hellenic Rescue Team (EOD), from the air an Air Force Super Puma helicopter and Frontex aircraft are operating, while from the land, investigations are carried out by Coast Guard patrol vehicles.

The prevailing weather conditions are a southerly wind of 5 on the Beaufort scale.

The rescued were taken by a Coast Guard patrol boat to the port of Mandraki, and then to the port of K.Yu.T. Kos for registration and identification.