A wide search was underway on Saturday for a boat with approximately 50 undocumented migrants off the southern coast of Lesvos island in the eastern Aegean Sea, the Greek Coast Guard said.

According to early information, an unidentified person made a telephone call to authorities that he was aboard a vessel carrying about 50 persons which was in need of help.

Three speedboats rushed to the area, as local police sources said that some 20 illegal immigrants had been detained on a nearby beach.

It has not been clarified yet whether the detained persons were on board the missing boat.