At least three dead in migrant boat capsizing off southern Crete

Saturday 21 February 2026 - 15:00

By: Sahili Aya

At least three dead in migrant boat capsizing off southern Crete

At least three migrants died after a boat capsized off the southern coast of Crete, Greek port police reported on Saturday. Twenty others were rescued by a commercial vessel dispatched to the area by the Greek Search and Rescue Center.

The incident occurred as migrants attempted to climb ladders from the commercial ship onto their wooden boat, which tilted suddenly and overturned. According to survivors, around 50 people had been aboard the vessel. Greek authorities continue the search and rescue operation with four patrol boats, one aircraft, and two vessels from the European border agency Frontex.

Meanwhile, a second boat carrying approximately 40 migrants was spotted in the area, prompting another rescue effort.

Migrants have been attempting the dangerous crossing from Libya to Crete for over a year, with the island serving as a primary entry point to the European Union. In 2025, the UNHCR reported that over 16,770 asylum seekers arrived in Crete, the highest number among the Greek islands in the Aegean. The agency also recorded 107 deaths or missing persons in Greek waters that year.

The Greek government had temporarily suspended asylum processing last summer in response to the surge of arrivals from Libya, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by migrants on this route.