Five migrants have been confirmed dead, with at least 20 others missing, following the capsizing of a wooden boat south of Crete, Greece’s largest island. The tragic incident occurred about 15 nautical miles south of Kala Limena, a coastal settlement on Crete’s southern shore, as reported by the Greek coast guard.
According to Greek national broadcaster ERT, the tragedy unfolded when a commercial vessel approached the migrants’ boat, causing it to capsize as passengers tried to board using a lowered ladder. A cargo ship flying the Panamanian flag rescued 20 individuals, while the Hellenic Coast Guard and Frontex, the EU’s border agency, recovered three bodies, with two more found at sea.
Survivors recounted that around 50 people were aboard the vessel, heightening concerns of a rising death toll. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with the deployment of coast guard ships, commercial vessels, a helicopter, and a military aircraft to aid in the efforts.
Earlier this month, Greek authorities discovered the bodies of two migrants near the Evros River, the natural border between Greece and Turkey. The victims, believed to be men aged around 20 and 35, were found close to Didymoteicho town, with suspicions of hypothermia being the cause of death due to low temperatures after crossing the river.
Greece has been a significant entry point into the EU for irregular migrants and refugees since 2015, with over a million arrivals in the past decade. Tragically, many have lost their lives at sea or in the Evros River region during these perilous journeys. Recent data from Frontex revealed a 27% decrease in irregular migration flows through the Eastern Mediterranean route in 2025 compared to the previous year, with approximately 51,400 irregular arrivals recorded in Greece.
