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A rescue operation off the coast of Crete turned tragic on Friday when a wooden boat carrying approximately 50 migrants capsized during an attempted boarding of a commercial vessel.
According to the Greek coast guard, the accident occurred as passengers rushed to climb ladders onto the larger ship, causing their small craft to overturn.
While the commercial crew managed to save 20 survivors—predominantly Egyptian and Sudanese nationals, including four minors—the bodies of three individuals were recovered from the water shortly after.
A massive search-and-rescue mission is currently underway to locate the remaining missing passengers.
The operation involves four patrol boats, a search aircraft, and two vessels from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
The urgency of the situation was compounded when authorities spotted a second boat in the same vicinity carrying another 40 migrants, triggering a simultaneous rescue effort in the increasingly busy crossing lane.
The route from Libya to Crete has become a major gateway for asylum seekers attempting to enter the European Union, with the UNHCR reporting that more than 16,770 people arrived on the island in 2025.
This surge in traffic has proven deadly; at least 107 people were confirmed dead or missing in Greek waters last year alone. The perilous nature of these crossings is often exacerbated by the use of overcrowded and unseaworthy wooden vessels that are ill-equipped for the open sea.
In response to the influx, the Greek government has taken a hardline stance, including a three-month suspension of asylum application processing last summer for those arriving from Libya.
Despite these policy shifts and the known dangers of the journey, the steady stream of arrivals underscores the desperation of those fleeing conflict and economic hardship in North Africa and the Middle East, leaving coast guard officials and international agencies struggling to manage the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
