235 Illegal Migrants Rescued in Four Incidents Off Southern Crete

A total of 235 migrants were found or rescued in four separate incidents across southern Crete on Monday, September 15, as Greek port authorities responded to arrivals from Gavdos to the southern coasts of Heraklion and Lasithi.

The incidents involved migrant boats in distress at sea as well as people who had already reached the island. Authorities transferred all 235 people to ports or temporary accommodation facilities.

At midday, a Frontex vessel spotted a migrant boat south of Gavdos and rescued 67 people, including 63 men, two women and two minors.

With assistance from a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel, authorities transported the migrants to the port of Tigani in Paleochora. A bus then took them to an accommodation facility in Agia, Chania, under the escort of officers from the Special Missions Unit of the Central Port Authority of Chania.

Earlier, the port authorities in Kali Limenes, Ierapetra and Agia Galini received information from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre about a migrant boat in distress around 44 nautical miles southeast of Kali Limenes.

A Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel reached the area and rescued 67 people, including 65 men and two minors. Authorities initially took them to Kali Limenes before transferring them to the port of Heraklion, accompanied by officers from the Phaistos Police Department.

The Central Port Authority of Heraklion is conducting the preliminary investigation.

In another incident, authorities found 51 migrants, including 47 men and four minors, on Psari Forada beach in the Kali Limenes area.

Officials transported the group by bus to the port of Heraklion, accompanied by officers from the local Port Authority’s Special Missions Unit and the Viannos Police Department.

During the preliminary investigation, authorities seized an outboard motor, while they destroyed the boat used to transport the migrants.

A fourth incident occurred in Ierapetra, where the local Port Authority received information about migrants who had landed at Kalokovrehti beach after travelling in an inflatable boat.

Coast Guard officers reached the area and found 50 people, whom authorities transferred to a temporary accommodation facility in Ierapetra. The Ierapetra Port Authority is conducting the preliminary investigation.

The series of operations highlights the continuing pressure from migrant arrivals in the sea south of Crete, with Greek authorities maintaining a heightened presence to detect and rescue people attempting to reach the island in small boats.

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