A devastating maritime incident has claimed the lives of at least 18 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, according to Greek authorities. The tragedy unfolded south of Crete on Saturday when an overcrowded inflatable vessel capsized during its perilous journey.
The half-submerged boat was initially spotted by a Turkish commercial ship passing through the area, triggering a massive multinational search and rescue operation. Two survivors were successfully pulled from the water, while emergency teams continue scouring the sea for additional survivors. The nationalities of the victims and the precise origin point of their journey remain undetermined at this time.
This catastrophe highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis along Europe’s southern borders, where Greece continues to serve as a primary gateway for those fleeing conflict zones and economic hardship across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. While the shorter Turkey-to-Greek-islands route has seen reduced traffic due to enhanced patrols and border control measures, the longer and more dangerous Libya-to-Crete passage has witnessed a significant surge in attempted crossings in recent months.
The complex rescue mission involves coordinated efforts between multiple agencies, including aircraft and vessels from Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), Greek Coast Guard helicopters, and three merchant ships that have joined the search operation. The Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, with such fatal incidents occurring with tragic regularity despite repeated warnings from humanitarian organizations about the dangers of irregular sea crossings in unseaworthy vessels.