Greek authorities have rescued over 500 migrants off the coast of Crete recently, according to a statement issued by the country’s coast guard on Sunday, May 25.
The rescues highlight the ongoing pressure faced by Greece as one of the key entry points into Europe for migrants fleeing war, poverty, and political instability, primarily from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The southern island of Crete, located near Libya and Egypt, has increasingly become part of the migration route used by those making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.
On Saturday alone, around 280 individuals were saved from five separate shipwrecks. Among those rescued were 13 minors, with the majority being adult men, the coast guard reported.
Several of the migrants stated they had departed from Libya, having paid between 150,000 and 200,000 Egyptian pounds—equivalent to roughly 3,000 to 4,000 US dollars—for the dangerous crossing.
In connection with the incident, Greek authorities arrested a 24-year-old Sudanese man, who is believed to have been involved in people smuggling. He has since been prosecuted.
The latest rescues serve as a grim reminder of the region’s tragic migration history. Greece witnessed its deadliest shipwreck two years ago when an ageing, overcrowded fishing trawler sank off the Peloponnese coast, resulting in the deaths of more than 600 people, according to the United Nations.
