At least 20 die in migrant boat incidents south of Crete, 133 rescued
At least 20 people have died and 133 have been rescued in a series of migrant boat incidents south of Crete, Greek broadcaster ERT reported. The deaths occurred across separate operations near Kali Limenes over Friday and Saturday.
Coast guard authorities were first alerted on the afternoon of Friday, November 7, to a boat in distress carrying foreign nationals six nautical miles south-southwest of Kali Limenes. The tugboat Pyrros was sent to the area and recovered 28 Sudanese nationals and the body of one man. According to survivors’ accounts, two more people had fallen into the sea and were reported missing.
Stormy north winds of force 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale made towing the boat and further recovery efforts extremely dangerous, authorities said. The boat was located again in the early morning hours with seven bodies inside and was brought to the port of Kali Limenes.
Second boat found by passing cargo ship
In a separate incident 15 nautical miles southeast of Kali Limenes, a boat was spotted by a passing Morocco-flagged container ship. A coast guard vessel recovered 18 survivors and 12 bodies and headed toward the port of Agia Galini.
Two further operations took place roughly 30 and 31 nautical miles south of Kali Limenes, where boats carrying an estimated 47 and 40 foreign nationals respectively were located with the help of manned and unmanned aircraft. Those on board were picked up by Frontex vessels and were being transported to Kali Limenes.
Of the 28 survivors from the first incident, two were taken to the University Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI) for treatment, while the rest were taken to Heraklion.
Smuggling charges filed
Survivors said they had set out from the coast of Libya on November 3 or 4, each paying between 12,000 and 16,000 Libyan dinars for the crossing to Greece.
Two Sudanese nationals, aged 28 and 16, were arrested in connection with the case after being identified by other survivors as smugglers. A case file has been opened against them for illegal entry into the country, facilitating illegal entry, forming a criminal group, and causing death through exposure.
