Greek Coast Guard Rescues 18 Sudanese Migrants After Fatal Shipwreck Off Crete

At least 13 migrants died and 18 survivors were rescued after their vessel sank roughly 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) off the coast of Crete. The Greek Coast Guard confirmed that a Moroccan-flagged container ship first spotted the distressed boat before rescue operations were launched. All of the survivors were identified as Sudanese nationals, four of whom were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment, including a toddler.

Greek authorities reported that the vessel had been at sea for several days and struggled against strong winds while attempting to reach land. Coast guard officials noted that the survivors were suffering from extreme exposure and cold when pulled from the water. In separate operations on Monday, Greek maritime units rescued an additional 187 individuals across three distinct incidents in surrounding waters.

The tragedy follows a sustained increase in arrivals along southern European maritime routes. According to figures compiled by the United Nations, more than 37,000 migrants have arrived in Greece so far this year, exceeding the overall total documented throughout 2025. Out of 86,400 Mediterranean sea arrivals recorded in the broader region this year, over 22,000 landed on Crete, driven in part by increased departures from Libya by individuals fleeing conflict in Sudan and economic distress in countries such as Bangladesh.

Local resources on Crete have come under strain following a rapid sequence of arrivals, with approximately 1,700 migrants reaching the island during the first three days of November alone. By comparison, during the 2015–2016 European migration crisis, nearly one million people arrived on Greek islands, primarily departing from Turkey before border controls were tightened. To manage the current influx, the Greek government announced plans to open a temporary housing facility near Heraklion, the island's capital.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com