At least one person has died and approximately 20 are believed to be missing after a migrant boat encountered difficulties south of the Greek island of Crete.
The vessel had travelled from Libya towards Crete when it took on water and became stranded, according to information released by the Greek Coast Guard and reported by the Associated Press.
Rescue teams reached the vessel early on Monday, September 14, approximately 75 kilometres south of Crete. Authorities said 51 people were rescued from the site.
The search operation involved Greek Coast Guard patrol boats, a helicopter, a drone and commercial vessels operating in the surrounding waters. Frontex, the European Union’s border and coast-guard agency, was also assisting.
The reported number of missing people remains an estimate because authorities have not released a verified passenger manifest. The figure could change as rescuers interview survivors and continue searching the surrounding area.
Authorities have not publicly identified the person who died or released confirmed information about the nationalities, ages or medical conditions of those rescued.
It also remains unclear when the vessel departed Libya, where it began taking on water or whether overcrowding, mechanical failure or weather conditions contributed to the emergency. Those details should not be stated as facts until investigators or maritime authorities provide further information.
The sea passage between eastern Libya and Crete has become increasingly important to people attempting to reach the European Union. Crete recorded a sharp increase in arrivals during 2025 as smugglers and migrants used the longer central Mediterranean crossing while activity declined on some other routes.
The voyage is considerably longer and more exposed than crossings from Turkey to Greece’s eastern Aegean islands. Boats undertaking the Libya–Crete route are frequently overcrowded or unsuitable for extended travel across open water.
The latest emergency remains an active search-and-rescue operation. A final assessment of the number killed, missing and rescued should await an updated statement from Greek authorities.
