The workers of the Greek coast guards rescued 340 migrants from a drowning vessel about 75 nautical miles from Crete, Lenta reports, citing Reuters.  

The rescue operation was carried out in the territorial waters of Egypt.  

Up to 700 people could have been on the vessel, but no information has been provided on the number of casualties so far.

According to those rescued, they had set out from African coasts, the Greek coast guards informed.

Only in the recent days several hundreds of migrants died in an attempt to illegally cross the EU territory.