Greek authorities announced that at least 20 migrants have died while attempting to reach the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to Agence France-Presse, the Greek Coast Guard stated that eight bodies were recovered from one vessel and 12 from another south of the island. Rescue teams also managed to pull around 40 survivors from the two boats.
Search and rescue operations began late Saturday following an emergency distress call, though severe winds and harsh sea conditions complicated efforts. From the first boat, 28 survivors and the body of one Sudanese national were initially recovered, followed by the discovery of seven more bodies inside the hull.
Authorities subsequently detained two Sudanese nationals, including a 16-year-old, after survivors identified them as suspected human traffickers.
In a separate incident south of Crete, coast guard personnel located 12 bodies aboard another vessel and rescued 18 survivors. Port officials noted that joint operations with the European border agency Frontex have rescued a total of 105 individuals.
Crete has increasingly emerged as a major maritime corridor for migrants departing from Libya seeking entry into the European Union aboard hazardous boats.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees data indicates that over 37,000 migrants have arrived in Greece since the start of 2026, with more than 22,000 landing on Crete. In response, Greek authorities announced plans to construct a temporary reception facility near Heraklion.
Source: AFP
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