Tragedy Strikes as 20 Migrants Die Attempting to Reach Crete

Over the weekend, twenty migrants died while trying to reach Crete, a Greek island that is a popular destination for those seeking to enter the European Union. The Greek coast guard reported the tragic news on Monday.

Authorities found eight bodies on one boat and twelve on another. Around forty people were rescued from both vessels. The coast guard launched an emergency rescue operation late Saturday after a boat sent out a distress signal. Strong winds made the sea conditions particularly dangerous.

Among the survivors, twenty-eight individuals, along with one deceased person, were Sudanese nationals. They were rescued by a nearby boat and later transferred to a police vessel, which took them to Crete.

During the night from Sunday to Monday, the coast guard discovered another boat with seven additional bodies on board. In a separate incident on Monday, twelve more bodies were found on a boat south of Crete, while eighteen people were rescued.

Crete has become a key entry point for migrants leaving Libya and attempting to reach Greece. Unfortunately, many of these crossings end in tragedy, with boats often sinking or encountering other dangers.