Three migrants were found dead in the sea near the Greek island of Crete as a commercial ship took part in a rescue operation, authorities reported on Friday.
The commercial vessel rescued twenty migrants following instructions from the Greek Search and Rescue Center.
According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, an incident occurred as the vessel approached the migrants’ wooden boat. The small boat capsized when passengers attempted to board the vessel using ladders, resulting from a sudden movement.
The search for survivors is ongoing with the assistance of four patrol boats, an aircraft, and two ships from the European border agency Frontex, as stated by a spokesperson for the Greek coast guard to AFP.
Survivors mentioned that approximately 50 individuals were on the wooden boat, as reported by ERT.
Another rescue operation was activated after a second boat carrying around forty migrants was sighted in the vicinity.
Over the past year, migrants have been making dangerous journeys from Libya to Crete, which serves as a gateway to the European Union.
In 2025, more than 16,770 individuals seeking asylum in the EU arrived in Crete, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In response to the increasing arrivals, the conservative Greek government halted the processing of asylum applications for three months last summer, especially for those coming from Libya.
UNHCR reported that 107 individuals either died or went missing in Greek waters in 2025.