Greek Coast Guard Rescues 131 Migrants; Southern Crete Sees Surge in Arrivals

ATHENS — The Greek coast guard conducted another major rescue operation Saturday, saving 131 migrants from a fishing vessel off the southern coast of Crete. This latest incident brings the total number of people rescued from the sea in this region over the past five days to at least 840, according to a police spokesperson.

The vessel was located approximately 14 nautical miles south of Gavdos, a small, sparsely populated island that lies south of Crete and has become a frequent first point of arrival for boats crossing from North Africa. All passengers, whose nationalities were not immediately disclosed, were transported to Gavdos for initial processing.

A Perilous and Increasingly Active Route
The central Mediterranean route from Libya to Italy has long been one of the deadliest migration paths in the world. Recently, however, there has been a notable increase in traffic aiming for Crete and other Greek islands further east, a longer and equally hazardous journey across open sea.

“This area south of Crete is becoming a new frontline in the migration crisis,” said the police spokesperson. “The numbers we are seeing in recent weeks are exceptionally high.”

The dangers of the crossing were starkly highlighted in early December, when a boat sank off the coast of Crete. Seventeen people—most of them Sudanese or Egyptian—were found dead, while 15 others remain missing. Only two survivors were rescued from that incident.

UN Data Confirms Significant Shift
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 16,770 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived on Crete since the beginning of the year—a figure that exceeds arrivals on any other Greek island. This underscores a significant geographical shift in migration patterns within the Eastern Mediterranean.

Government Response and Mounting Pressure
Faced with a rising influx, Greece’s conservative government in July suspended the processing of new asylum applications for three months, with a particular focus on arrivals from Libya. Officials described the measure as “absolutely necessary” to manage the increasing flow and relieve pressure on the country’s reception system.

The policy has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue it exacerbates the vulnerability of people fleeing conflict and poverty and may violate international protection norms. The suspension has since expired, but the government maintains a stance of strict border management.

The continuous arrivals place immense strain on local resources on small islands like Gavdos and on Crete’s broader infrastructure, reigniting debates within the European Union on burden-sharing, solidarity, and sustainable migration policies.

 

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