Three Migrants Die, Dozens Rescued Off Crete

ATHENS:The bodies of three migrants were recovered from the waters off Crete during a rescue operation involving a commercial ship, Greek authorities said Saturday.

Twenty migrants were saved after the commercial vessel, directed to the area by the Greek Search and Rescue Center, attempted to assist passengers on a small wooden boat.

According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, an accident occurred as migrants tried to climb ladders onto the vessel, causing the small boat to capsize.

The search for survivors continued with four patrol boats, an aircraft, and two ships from the European border agency Frontex, a spokesperson for the Greek coast guard told AFP. Survivors reported that about 50 people were on the wooden boat.

Authorities also spotted a second boat carrying around 40 migrants in the area, prompting another rescue operation.

For over a year, migrants have been making the perilous journey from Libya to Crete, the gateway to the European Union. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that more than 16,770 asylum seekers arrived in Crete in 2025.

Faced with the surge in arrivals, the conservative Greek government suspended the processing of asylum applications for three months last summer, particularly for those coming from Libya. UNHCR said 107 people died or went missing in Greek waters in 2025.