At Least 22 Migrants Die in Boat Wrecks South of Crete
Greek authorities and EU agencies recovered at least 22 bodies and rescued hundreds of migrants following multiple boat incidents south of Crete between November 6 and 9.
At least 22 people died attempting to reach Greece from North Africa in separate boat incidents south of Crete between November 6 and November 9, 2026. The Hellenic Coast Guard recovered 13 bodies and rescued 18 survivors on Monday after a Moroccan-flagged cargo ship spotted a vessel approximately 15 nautical miles off the port of Kaloi Limenes; one survivor later died at a health center.
In a separate incident on Saturday night, authorities recovered eight bodies and rescued 28 Sudanese nationals whose boat encountered severe weather six nautical miles south of Crete. Two Sudanese passengers were arrested on suspicion of smuggling. Additionally, the European Union border agency Frontex used aircraft and drones to rescue between 87 and 187 people from three other boats in the region.
While overall illegal border crossings into Greece have declined, arrivals on Crete have surged, with many migrants fleeing poverty in Bangladesh and conflict in Sudan via routes from Libya. In response, the Greek government plans to open a temporary housing complex near Heraklion to manage the influx. The International Organization for Migration warned that rising arrivals along the Libya-Crete route and gaps in search and rescue capacity are heightening humanitarian risks.
