At least 21 people died over the weekend while trying to reach the Greek island of Crete, authorities confirmed on Monday.
The Greek coast guard found eight bodies on one boat and 12 on another, while rescuing around 40 people from both vessels. Another body was discovered on Monday afternoon.
Maritime police launched an emergency rescue late on Saturday after a boat sent out an alarm signal. Strong winds made sea conditions difficult, the coast guard said.
A passing boat picked up around 28 survivors and one body, all Sudanese nationals, and transferred them to a police vessel which took them to Crete. Authorities arrested two Sudanese citizens, one of them aged 16, after survivors identified them as suspected people-smugglers.
During Sunday night, the coast guard located the boat and found seven more bodies on board.
In a separate incident, authorities discovered 12 bodies on a boat south of the island on Monday, while rescuing 18 people.
The Greek coast guard and the EU’s Frontex border agency rescued a total of 105 people on Monday, according to port authorities.
Crete has become one of the main entry points into the European Union for migrants leaving Libya and attempting the dangerous crossing to Greece. Many of the attempted crossings turn deadly when vessels sink or run into trouble.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, more than 37 000 migrants have arrived in Greece in 2026 so far. Over 22 000 of those people landed on Crete, the country’s largest island.
The government has announced plans to open a temporary housing complex near Heraklion, the island’s largest city, in response to the influx.
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