At least 13 people died after a vessel carrying migrants sank off the southern coast of the Greek island of Crete. The Greek coastguard reported that 18 individuals, all citizens of Sudan, were successfully rescued from the water, with four survivors—including a young child—transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
Rescue and Search Operations
The distressed boat was initially sighted by a container ship sailing under a Moroccan flag approximately 15 nautical miles, or 28 kilometers, away from the coast of Crete. Officials stated that the exact cause of the fatalities remained unclear, though initial assessments suggest the vessel had spent multiple days at sea and battled severe winds while trying to approach the shoreline. A coastguard official, speaking anonymously to the Reuters news agency, noted that the rescued individuals were shivering from the cold. Meanwhile, in separate operations, the Greek coastguard intercepted and rescued another 187 people across three distinct incidents near the country’s coast on Monday.
Broader Migration Trends in Greece
United Nations data indicates that over 37,000 migrants have reached Greece this year, a total that already exceeds arrivals for the entirety of 2025. Crete has emerged as a primary entry point for individuals journeying from North Africa and the Middle East toward Europe, recording more than 22,000 out of the 86,400 total sea arrivals for the year. In response to the rising numbers, the Greek government unveiled measures to manage the arrivals, which include the establishment of a temporary accommodation facility close to Heraklion, the capital of Crete.
During the European migration crisis of 2015 to 2016, Greece stood at the center as nearly one million people—primarily escaping conflict in Turkey—landed on its shores. Although arrivals decreased following stricter border regulations, maritime crossings originating from Libya have increased significantly in recent times, driven largely by individuals escaping the war in Sudan and others seeking economic advancement from nations such as Bangladesh.
