Twenty Migrants Die in Two Attempts to Reach Crete, Greek Coast Guard Reports

Greece’s coast guard reported on Monday, November 9, that 20 people died in two separate attempts to reach the island of Crete, while roughly 46 others were rescued. The first operation began late Saturday, November 7, after a boat sent a distress signal. According to the coast guard, strong winds made conditions at sea difficult. A nearby vessel rescued about 28 people and recovered one body. On Sunday, authorities said all those involved were Sudanese nationals. The survivors and the body were transferred to a police vessel and taken to Crete. Between Sunday and Monday, the coast guard located the boat and found seven more bodies on board, raising the death toll from the first incident to eight. In a separate incident on Monday, November 9, the coast guard found 12 bodies aboard a boat south of Crete and rescued 18 people. Crete has become a major entry point into the European Union for migrants traveling from Libya. The crossing to Greece can be fatal when boats sink or encounter trouble at sea.