November 9, 2026
12 migrants died and 18 others were rescued, after a boat carrying them sank off the southern coast of the Greek island of Crete, in a new tragedy that highlights the dangers of irregular migration across the Mediterranean.
The Greek Coast Guard announced today, Monday, that the authorities recovered the bodies of the 12 victims after the boat was found in the morning about 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) south of the island, adding that a passing cargo ship succeeded in rescuing 18 survivors, while the identities of the victims or the circumstances of the accident were not immediately announced.
In a simultaneous development, the Coast Guard monitored two additional boats for the refugees south of the island of Crete, one carrying 47 people and the other carrying 40 people, confirming that work is underway to transport them all to one of the ports on the southern coast of the island.
This incident comes as an extension of the continuous flows witnessed in recent months across the Mediterranean, as thousands of migrants seeking refuge from conflicts and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia depart from the coasts of North Africa towards Greece, making Greek waters one of the most prominent and dangerous crossing points towards the European continent.
