Crete Boat Sinking Kills 13 Migrants
Greece reports 13 deaths and 18 survivors from a vessel off Crete as 2026 sea arrivals top last year's total.
By Meera Fletcher ·
Greece's coastguard reported at least 13 deaths after a migrant vessel sank near the island of Crete.
Rescuers pulled 18 Sudanese nationals from the water, with four requiring hospital care, including one toddler. Officials stated the cause of the sinking was undetermined but suggested strong winds prevented the ship from reaching land after days at sea. A coastguard official told Reuters that the survivors were shivering from the cold.
The incident occurred roughly 15 nautical miles from the coast after a Moroccan-flagged container ship spotted the boat. On the same day, Greek authorities rescued 187 people in three other incidents off the mainland.
Crete serves as a primary entry point for arrivals from North Africa and the Middle East. More than 22,000 people landed on the island so far in 2026. This figure represents a portion of the 86,400 people who have reached Europe by sea this year.
The United Nations reports that Greece has received over 37,000 migrants in 2026, a number that already exceeds the total recorded for all of 2025. In response to the rising volume, the Greek government announced the opening of a temporary housing complex near Heraklion.
Arrivals in Greece peaked in 2015 and 2016, when nearly one million people reached the islands, primarily from Turkey. Recent years have seen a sharp increase in crossings from Libya. Many travelers are fleeing conflict in Sudan, while others, including nationals from Bangladesh, seek economic opportunities.
