Greek Coast Guard rescued on Monday more than 300 undocumented migrants who were stranded for several hours on a vessel off the southern Aegean Sea island of Crete, according to an official announcement.

The rescue operation which started early Monday when the 32-meter vessel issued a distress signal in moderate weather conditions ended successfully by sunset, the press release said.

All passengers were transferred safely to Greek tanker Olympic Faith which rushed to the area along with other five vessels upon instructions by the Greek Shipping Ministry.

They included cargo ships, a U.S. warship from Crete's naval base and a Greek Navy frigate with personnel who provided first aid to the immigrants.

Initial estimates from Greek authorities, based on accounts of the first migrants rescued, had put the total number of persons on board the vessel to 408, including some 100 women and children.

At the end of the operation, the figure was lowered by Coast Guard officials who did not give a precise number. They confirmed however that most immigrants were from Syria and Egypt.

It has not been clarified where the vessel was coming from and which was its destination, as well as the cause of the distress signal. According to Shipping Ministry sources, it is believed that the boat was heading towards Italy.

Greece has become over the past few years a major transit point for thousands of migrants from Asia and Africa who illegally enter the country seeking a better life in Western Europe.

Several die during the attempt in sea tragedies in the Aegean Sea. According to official data from Greek authorities in the past two years, Greek Coast Guard has rescued about 3,500 people in such incidents. Endi

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