Twelve Migrants Found Dead on Boat Off Crete as Rescuers Save Dozens More

Greek authorities recovered the bodies of 12 migrants from a boat found sailing south of the island of Crete early on Monday, 9 November, in the latest deadly incident on the Mediterranean crossing. A passing cargo ship helped rescue 18 people from the same vessel, and rescue teams brought dozens more to safety from two other boats in the area.

The boat was found about 15 nautical miles south of Crete on Monday morning, near the southern port of Kaloi Limenes. The Greek coast guard said it was not immediately clear how the 12 people had died, and no information was released about their identities. The survivors were taken ashore.

FAKTA

• The discovery: 12 bodies were found aboard a migrant boat about 15 nautical miles south of Crete, off the port of Kaloi Limenes, early on Monday, 9 November.
• The rescue: 18 people were rescued from the same boat, with help from a passing Moroccan-flagged cargo ship.
• Two more boats: About 47 people were on one boat and about 40 on another, spotted by a Frontex aircraft and a drone; all were rescued and taken to a southern Crete port.
• Cause of death: Not yet known; the identities of the 12 people who died have not been released.
• The route: Sea arrivals from north-eastern Libya toward Crete have increased in recent years.

A Morning Rescue Turns to Recovery

The coast guard operation began early on Monday, when the boat was spotted sailing south of Crete. Rescue teams reached the vessel and found the 12 bodies on board, while the survivors were brought to safety with help from the cargo ship passing nearby.

Later that morning, two more boats were found nearby. One, carrying about 47 people, was spotted by an aircraft from Frontex, the European Union border agency. The second, with about 40 people on board, was found by a Frontex drone. Everyone on both boats was rescued and taken to a port on the southern coast of Crete.

Crete Migrant Route Under Growing Pressure

Greece has long been a main entry point into Europe for people travelling by sea from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The country faced its heaviest pressure during the migration crisis of 2015 and 2016, when nearly one million people landed on its islands, most of them arriving from Turkey.

Arrivals later fell as Greece strengthened its patrols. In recent years, however, more people have set out from north-eastern Libya aiming for Crete, making its southern waters one of the busiest stretches of the route. Many boats used are overcrowded and poorly equipped, and rough seas can turn a journey deadly within hours. For more international coverage, visit Watan News.

What Happens Next

Greek authorities must now establish what happened aboard the boat and how the 12 people died, while the coast guard coordinates arrivals from all three boats. The incident adds to the toll of a crossing that continues to claim lives, and it renews questions about making the sea route safer.