Crete boat tragedy: 12 migrants found dead, total of 20 killed in three days

Three rescue operations were conducted by the Hellenic Coast Guard and Frontex in the early hours of Monday off the Greek coast to rescue 18 people from a boat carrying migrants. At least twelve people were found dead in a boat carrying foreign nationals, about 15 nautical miles south-southwest of Kaloi Limenes, a town in the south of Crete. At the same time, the competent authorities have been mobilised, as three separate search and rescue operations have been carried out, during which a total of 105 people were recovered. The boat and those on board were initially located by a container ship sailing under the Moroccan flag, which took part in the operation following coordination by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), according to the Hellenic Coast Guard. The Coast Guard rescued 18 foreign nationals from the vessel. During the operation, officers also located and recovered twelve bodies from the boat. Two more incidents involving migrants At the same time, two other rescue operations were carried out in the wider sea area south of Crete, under the coordination of the JRCC and with the assistance of the European Border and Frontex. Specifically, a Frontex unmanned aircraft located a second boat carrying about 40 foreign nationals, at a distance of 31 nautical miles southeast of Crete. They were picked up by a vessel of the European force and are expected to be taken to the port of Kaloi Limenes in Crete. A similar operation followed for a third boat, which was spotted by a Frontex aircraft about 30 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes. Some 47 foreign nationals were on board, who were rescued by a ship of the European force and are also expected to be brought to the southern town of Crete. Based on the information available so far, a total of about 105 people were rescued in the three operations, while twelve deaths were recorded. Weather conditions in the sea area are described as good. Twenty dead in total since Friday On Friday afternoon, the port authorities received a report of a boat with foreign nationals that was in serious difficulty at sea, about six nautical miles southwest of Kaloi Limenes. The tug "Pyrrhos" was immediately mobilised, located the vessel and took on board 28 Sudanese nationals, as well as the body of a man. According to the survivors' statements, two more people on board had fallen into the sea and were missing, which led to a further mobilisation of the authorities. However, the particularly bad weather conditions, with northerly winds, made both the attempt to tow the boat and the continuation of the recovery operation extremely dangerous. The vessel was located again in the early hours of the morning, when it was found that there were seven more bodies inside. The boat was then taken to Kaloi Limenes. In connection with the case, the authorities arrested two Sudanese nationals, aged 28 and 16, who were identified by the other passengers as the individuals allegedly in charge of the smuggling operation. They have been charged with illegal entry into the country, facilitating illegal entry, forming a criminal organisation and fatal exposure.