A total of 259 migrants were located or rescued within a few hours in a series of incidents south of Crete, reflecting the intense traffic currently being recorded along the sea route to the island. Of these, 182 were transported to the Chania area and 77 to Heraklion, while a total of 14 minors were among those on board.
The operations mobilized the Coast Guard, the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center, and Frontex vessels, as within a short period of time, various boats were located south of Gavdos and Crete, as well as groups of people who had already reached land.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In the Chania area, three separate incidents were recorded, involving a total of 182 people.
The first occurred in the evening, when the Port Authorities of Paleochora, Gavdos, and Hora Sfakion were notified of a boat in distress approximately 20 nautical miles south of Gavdos. A Frontex vessel arrived in the area and rescued 43 people—specifically, 41 men and two minors—who were safely transported to the port of Paleochora.
As part of the preliminary investigation, a 17-year-old South Sudanese national was arrested; according to the Coast Guard, he was identified as the smuggler of the others. Charges were filed against him for illegal entry into the country, aiding and abetting, and endangering others.
A few hours later, a new alert was issued, this time approximately 34 nautical miles south of Gavdos. A Frontex vessel spotted two small boats. From the first boat, 49 people were rescued—45 men, one woman, and three minors—and from the second, another 39—36 men, one woman, and two minors. All 88 survivors were taken to the port of Paleochora.
The third incident in Chania occurred this morning at Gialiskari Beach in Paleochora, where a Coast Guard patrol boat spotted 51 people, including 46 men, one woman, and four minors. All were transported to the port of Tigani in Paleochora.
The 182 people from the three incidents then departed from the port of Palaiochora, escorted by Coast Guard officers, to a temporary shelter in Agia, Chania. The Chania Central Port Authority has taken charge of the preliminary investigation.
The operation, however, was not limited to western Crete.
In the early morning hours, the Port Authorities of Agia Galini, Kokkinos Pyrgos, and Kalo Limena were notified of yet another boat, which was located approximately 35 nautical miles south of Kalo Limena.
A Frontex vessel rescued 44 people—42 men, one woman, and one minor—and transported them to Kalo Limena. They were then transported to the port of Heraklion, accompanied by officers from the Special Missions Unit of the Heraklion Central Port Authority and the Phaistos Police Department.
Almost simultaneously, another 33 people were located in the Psari Forada area of the Municipality of Viannos after disembarking from a boat. The group consisted of 29 men, two women, and two minors. This group was also subsequently transported to the port of Heraklion.
With these two incidents south of Heraklion, the number of people located in the area rose to 77, bringing the total tally of successive incidents in Crete to 259 people.
The Heraklion Central Port Authority is conducting a preliminary investigation into the incidents in the Heraklion area.
Source: Proto Thema
