A tragic maritime disaster unfolded south of Greece as 20 individuals lost their lives across two separate incidents while attempting to reach the Greek island of Crete, according to statements released by the Hellenic Coast Guard on Monday, November 9. Amidst these perilous sea crossings, approximately 46 people were successfully rescued by emergency responders and passing vessels.
The initial rescue operation was triggered late on Saturday, November 7, following an emergency distress call issued from a troubled vessel. According to the coast guard, adverse weather conditions characterized by strong winds severely complicated maritime rescue efforts in the area. A commercial vessel transiting the route managed to pick up roughly 28 survivors and retrieved one deceased individual from the water. Officials subsequently confirmed that everyone involved in this first incident hailed from Sudan. The survivors and the recovered body were handed over to a law enforcement vessel and safely transported to Crete.
Continuing their search operations overnight between Sunday and Monday, coast guard teams located the stricken boat and discovered an additional seven bodies onboard, elevating the death toll from the initial voyage to eight. In a completely separate operation on Monday, November 9, authorities intercepted another distressed boat south of Crete, pulling 18 survivors from the water while recovering 12 bodies.
Over recent years, Crete has emerged as a primary entry corridor into the European Union for migrants departing from Libya. The perilous maritime route frequently turns fatal when unseaworthy vessels encounter rough weather, capsize, or experience mechanical failures while navigating the treacherous open waters.