At least 22 migrants died in two separate maritime disasters off the coast of Crete, according to reports by the Associated Press and Greek media outlets.
The Greek coast guard and rescue services recovered the bodies after responding to vessels in distress south of the island.
Frontex, the European Union’s border and coast guard agency, participated in the multi-vessel rescue operations launched to intercept boats making the perilous crossing from North Africa.
In the first incident, a Moroccan-registered cargo ship spotted a migrant vessel approximately 28 kilometers south of Crete on Monday, vg.no reported. The Greek coast guard recovered 13 bodies from the boat. Out of 18 survivors found alive, one later died at a local health facility.
An anonymous coast guard official described the grim scene to Reuters reporters. We found them shivering from cold,
the official said. Greek authorities subsequently arrested two Sudanese nationals aged 16 and 28 on suspicion of organizing the fatal crossing.
A second boat carrying migrants was found dead of exposure and dehydration after spending multiple days adrift at sea. Eight additional migrants perished on that vessel after running completely out of fuel, food, and drinking water. Two more individuals remain missing following the coordinated rescue efforts.
Rescue teams intercepted three additional migrant boats in the same region on Monday, carrying approximately 187 people in total. The vessels held roughly 47, 40, and 100 passengers respectively. The Greek coast guard transported the survivors and the deceased to the mainland town of Agia Galini.
The Frontex vessel Alert arrived at the port of Kaloi Limenes on Crete carrying rescued migrants. Footage from the scene showed a young child being carried ashore by the Greek coast guard before later resting in a woman’s arms.
The maritime corridor from Libya to Crete has rapidly developed into one of the primary migration pathways into the European Union. Frontex data indicates that this specific stretch was the busiest section of the eastern Mediterranean route during the first nine months of the year.
Survivors from the stranded boats told rescuers that their vessels had drifted for days without basic provisions. Greek authorities continue to investigate the smuggling networks operating across North Africa as rescue teams maintain patrols in the area.
Survivors reported running out of fuel, food, and drinking water during journeys lasting several days at sea. While exact medical causes for the 22 fatalities remain under official investigation, exposure and dehydration heavily impacted the passengers.
Greek authorities arrested two Sudanese nationals aged 16 and 28 on suspicion of organizing the maritime crossing that resulted in 14 deaths on the first vessel.
In addition to those who died, rescue teams found roughly 187 people aboard three separate boats south of Crete, alongside other survivors pulled from the distressed vessels.