Greek officials reported that 91 migrants arrived on Gavdos island, south of Crete, on a vessel from Libya, highlighting the recent increase in migrant arrivals to the region.
The Greek coast guard stated the migrants were found on a beach on Gavdos island on Tuesday and are being relocated to Crete for further assistance.
According to the Ekathimerini news outlet, it is believed that the migrants embarked on their journey from Libya’s eastern coast, covering a distance of approximately 170 nautical miles to reach Gavdos. The migrants’ nationalities remain undisclosed.
Gavdos, located about 27 nautical miles south of Crete, and the southern coast of Crete have seen a rise in migrant arrivals recently, with over 600 individuals reaching the area or being rescued at sea in the last month alone.
The Greek coast guard reported that these migrants often travel from Tobruk, Libya, across the Mediterranean Sea, with some paying up to $5,000 to smuggling groups for the voyage.
The influx has put a strain on Gavdos, a small island known for its summer tourism, which spans 29 square kilometers and has a limited number of residents outside the tourist season.
Furthermore, SOS Mediterranee, a maritime rescue organization, conducted a rescue operation off the Libyan coast for 25 migrants on a rubber boat, who had been at sea for a week. The organization, based in Marseille, France, emphasized the need for significant medical assistance for the survivors, who were in poor physical and mental health. Two of the rescued individuals required urgent medical evacuation due to their critical condition.
SOS Mediterranee has been active since 2016, rescuing over 39,000 people in the Mediterranean, with a focus on the central sector, known as the most perilous route for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 3,105 migrants were declared dead or missing in Mediterranean crossings in 2023, with 278 casualties reported since January this year.
