Twelve migrants die in boat found off Crete coast
A Moroccan cargo ship rescued 18 survivors from the same vessel, which was located 15 nautical miles south of the island.
By Daniela Ortega ·
Greek authorities recovered the bodies of 12 migrants from a vessel found early Monday morning in the waters south of Crete. The coast guard confirmed that a Moroccan-flagged cargo ship rescued 18 other individuals from the same boat. The incident occurred approximately 15 nautical miles, or 18 miles, from the southern Mediterranean island.
The coast guard stated that no immediate details were available regarding the identities of the deceased or the specific causes of death. The vessel was discovered while sailing in the southern Mediterranean Sea. The 18 survivors were pulled from the water by the passing cargo ship before Greek authorities took charge of the scene.
Two additional boats were located in the same area on Monday. One vessel carried approximately 47 people, while the second held about 40. An aircraft from the European Union's border agency, Frontex, spotted the first boat. A Frontex drone detected the second. Personnel from the agency rescued everyone on board both vessels and transported them to a port on Crete's southern coast.
Greece serves as a primary entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In recent months, thousands have attempted the dangerous sea crossing from North Africa, typically departing from Libya. Others take a shorter but hazardous route from the Turkish coast to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, often using inflatable dinghies.
The sea crossing from Libya to Crete is currently the busiest section for migrants entering the EU. Frontex reported in October that the eastern Mediterranean was the most active route for arrivals. Despite this, irregular border crossings into the 27-nation bloc have dropped by one-third so far in 2026. The agency recorded roughly 31,800 crossings in the first three quarters of the year, a 15% decline compared to the same period last year.
Last month, 12 people, including an infant, died when two boats traveling from Turkey to the islands of Lesbos and Samos capsized. The Libya to Crete corridor remains the top route, followed by the eastern Aegean islands and the land border with Turkey. The 12 bodies recovered Monday have not yet been identified by authorities.
