Coast guard recovers 12 bodies from migrant boat south of Crete
Eighteen survivors were pulled from the same vessel by a Moroccan cargo ship, while two other boats with nearly 90 people were also intercepted in the area.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Greek coast guard officials recovered 12 bodies from a migrant vessel early Monday morning, 15 nautical miles south of Crete. The boat was located approximately 28 kilometers from the southern coast of the island. A passing cargo ship flying the Moroccan flag pulled 18 people from the water and brought them to safety. The coast guard confirmed the incident but did not immediately release the identities of the deceased or the specific causes of death.
Search operations in the same waters revealed two additional boats. One carried roughly 47 people, and the second held about 40. An aircraft from Frontex, the European Union's border agency, spotted the first vessel. A Frontex drone identified the second. Crews from the agency rescued everyone on board both boats and began transporting them to a port on the southern coast of Crete.
Greece serves as a primary entry point for migrants entering the European Union. Many travelers attempt the sea crossing from North Africa, typically departing from Libya and heading to Crete. Others take a shorter but hazardous route across the Aegean Sea from Turkey to nearby Greek islands. These crossings often involve small inflatable dinghies or other boats that may not be fully seaworthy.
The eastern Mediterranean has seen high traffic this year, though numbers have decreased compared to previous periods. Frontex reported in October that this region was the busiest route for migrants attempting to enter the 27-nation bloc. Despite the high volume, irregular border crossings were down by a third so far in 2026.
The agency recorded approximately 31,800 crossings in the first three quarters of this year. This represents a 15% decline compared to the same period last year. The stretch of sea between Libya and Crete remained the most active section of the route. It saw more traffic than the eastern Aegean islands or the land border with Turkey.
Local authorities continued to process the 18 survivors rescued by the cargo ship and the roughly 87 migrants taken from the two additional boats. The coast guard maintained a presence in the southern waters of Crete to monitor for further vessels.
