More than 100 migrants reach Crete in two overnight landings from Libya

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Iraklio, Crete — August 7, 2026

More than 100 migrants arrived on the southern shores of Crete overnight after crossing the Mediterranean in two small boats from North Africa, Greek authorities said Friday.

A Coast Guard statement reported that 47 men, three women and seven children were found early Friday on the beach at Elygia, near the village of Aghios Ioannis. The group was transferred to the northern port of Iraklio.

Late Thursday, another 47 men, four women and seven children were picked up off the beach at Tsoutsoura after landing in a small boat. Among them, an 18-year-old Sudanese man was arrested on suspicion of piloting the vessel from the Tobruk area of eastern Libya on behalf of a migrant-smuggling network.

Some 10,000 people have reached Crete from Libya so far this year, accounting for roughly half of all migrant arrivals in Greece in 2026.

The crossings form part of a continuing pattern of small-boat journeys from eastern Libya to southern Crete.

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