Of the 36 foreign citizens, five were children, 11 were women and 20 were men. They were hypothermic and dehydrated and some unconscious. The outside temperature was only two degrees Celsius when the boat was spotted between the Evros river delta and Makri, Greece.
They were taken to the police boat, where officers gave them water, hot beverages and blankets, after which they were taken to the Greek port of Alexandroupoli, where they received emergency medical assistance. Five migrants were hospitalised, while the rest were taken to a reception centre.