12 migrants found dead off Crete; 105 rescued in three separate operations
Bodies of 12 migrants recovered southwest of Crete; a cargo ship and coastguard, plus Frontex, rescued 105 people in three separate cases.
The bodies of 12 migrants were recovered from the sea southwest of the Greek island of Crete, while in three separate operations across the wider area a total of 105 people were rescued after traveling on three boats.
Details of the incidents
The fatal case occurred about 15 nautical miles southeast of the port of Kali Limenes, when a cargo ship sailing nearby spotted a small vessel with migrants and took 18 people on board. A patrol boat from the coast guard arrived shortly afterwards; the rescued were transferred to it and the bodies of the 12 deceased were pulled from the water.
In two other separate cases south of Crete, coastguard and Frontex assets rescued additional groups: one group of 40 and another of 47 migrants. Those boats had been located by a Frontex aircraft and the people were taken aboard a Frontex ship to be transported to the port of Kali Limenes.
Authorities say the three incidents together involved three distinct boats and produced the combined total of 105 survivors and the 12 fatalities. Rescue teams continue processing the survivors and recovering the deceased.
The sequence of events highlights ongoing maritime migration risks in the central Mediterranean, where small, overcrowded vessels attempt sea crossings and are sometimes spotted by commercial, coastguard or Frontex aircraft and ships.
Photo: press material from the event
