Greek Coast Guard Saves 9 Crew from Sinking Ship

All nine crew members are safe tonight after their cargo ship sank off the coast of Greece, marking another successful rescue by the country's coast guard.

The freighter was traveling from Albania to Ukraine early Wednesday when it struck rocks near the island of Andros. The ship, loaded with hundreds of metric tons of soda, ran aground and quickly began to sink.

Coast guard teams sprang into action as the vessel went down. Two crew members ended up in the water, while seven others managed to reach a rocky, difficult-to-access area on Andros island.

Rescuers pulled both sailors from the sea and reached the seven stranded on the rugged coastline. By the end of the operation, everyone was accounted for and safe.

The Bright Side

This rescue shows what skilled emergency responders can accomplish when every second counts. The coast guard teams navigated challenging conditions, from open water to treacherous rocky terrain, to bring everyone home.

Even better, the incident appears to have dodged an environmental crisis. Coast guard officials report no pollution detected in the surrounding waters so far, though they're deploying a protective sea barrier as a precaution to safeguard the pristine Aegean waters around Andros.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. What matters most is that nine people who left for work that morning are alive and well, thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of Greek coast guard rescuers.

When disaster strikes at sea, these are the moments that prove the value of well-trained emergency teams ready to risk everything for strangers in peril.