The Greek coastguard has rescued 42 migrants off the island of Crete and is searching for three individuals believed to be missing after their boat sent a distress signal, according to a coastguard official.
The migrants were rescued by commercial vessels and a Greek navy helicopter approximately 27 nautical miles southwest of Crete. Details about the fate of their boat remain unclear, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A search and rescue operation is currently underway for the missing individuals.
In recent months, Crete and its neighboring island Gavdos, Europe’s southernmost point, have seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals from Libya, seeking to enter Europe.
To address this influx, the Greek government has pledged additional funds and staffing to support the overwhelmed islands. Greece has been a primary entry point to the European Union for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia since 2015, when nearly 1 million people arrived on its shores, triggering an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Thousands of others have perished at sea.
Historically, migrants have favored islands closer to Turkey over Crete and Gavdos, but this trend appears to be shifting.