Greece Rescues 50 Migrants Amid Uptick In Numbers

Police in Greece say about 50 migrants have been rescued off the country's southwest coast after their boat hit a rock.

The migrants were rescued near the town of Methoni on August 19.

Greek authorities have recorded a spike in the number of migrants reaching the country in recent days. During August 18-19, 261 new arrivals were registered, most of them on the island of Lesbos.

Last week, there were from 13 to 147 arrivals daily.

The figures, however, are much lower than last year because of a deal signed between the EU and Turkey in March. Under that agreement, Turkey agreed to take back migrants who reach Greece in exchange for the EU accepting an equal number from refugee camps in Turkey.

There are still an estimated 10,000 migrants at camps on Greek islands in the Aegean trying to avoid being returned to Turkey.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP