At least 13 people have lost their lives after a ship carrying migrants has drowned on the shores of the Greek island of Crete, while another 18 persons have been rescued, reports the BBC.
According to the Greek coastline, all survivors are Sudanese citizens. Four have been sent to the hospital for medical treatment, including a small child.
Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of death, but it is suspected that the ship had remained at sea for several days and had faced difficulties reaching shore because of strong winds. A coast guard official told Reuters that survivors were shivering from the cold.
The ship was spotted by a shipping container, about 15 miles [15 km] off the coast of Crete, after which rescue operation began.
Meanwhile, the Greek coastal guard has saved another 187 migrants in three separate incidents along the country’s coasts, taking place Monday.
Crete remains one of the main points of entry for migrants aiming to reach Europe from the Middle East and North Africa. According to UN data, more than 37 thousand migrants have arrived in Greece this year, already exceeding the number of foreigners throughout 2025.
In the face of rising flow, the Greek government has warned new measures, including the opening of a temporary residential complex near Heraklion, the capital of Crete.
Greece was one of the main points of the migration crisis in Europe during 2015-2016, when nearly a million people arrived in its islands, mainly through Turkey. As the crossings from Libya have increased in recent years, especially by persons fleeing the conflict in Sudan and seeking better living conditions.
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Source Layer: Signal