Greek authorities have rescued more than 80 migrants travelling in two boats that departed from Libya and reached waters near the island of Crete, highlighting the continued rise in migration flows from the North African country to southern Europe.
According to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, 38 irregular migrants aboard a small vessel were located on Tuesday by a patrol ship operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, approximately two nautical miles from the island of Gavdos, south of Crete.
Earlier the same day, a Frontex surveillance drone detected another boat carrying 43 migrants about 37 nautical miles south of Gavdos. All passengers were safely transferred to Crete by Greek authorities.
The latest rescues came just one day after six separate boats carrying nearly 200 migrants arrived on Crete, adding to a growing number of arrivals that have increased pressure on Greek authorities.
Migration routes from Libya to Greece have seen a significant rise in recent months. Last week alone, around 600 migrants reached Crete in a single day, reflecting a sharp increase in departures from Libya toward the eastern Mediterranean.
The growing influx has raised concerns in Athens, where officials have been seeking stronger cooperation with Libyan authorities to curb irregular migration across the Mediterranean. However, Greece has yet to secure significant progress in efforts aimed at reducing the number of migrant departures from Libya.
Crete has increasingly become a major destination for migrants from North Africa and the Middle East attempting to enter the European Union through Greece. The island’s location in the eastern Mediterranean has made it an important gateway for migration routes originating from Libya.
Greek migration authorities estimate that approximately 10,000 migrants have entered Greece irregularly since the beginning of the year. Nearly half of those arrivals are believed to have departed from the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk, underlining Libya’s continued role as one of the main departure points for migrant crossings toward Europe.
European officials continue to monitor developments closely as migration pressure along Mediterranean routes remains a key challenge for both Greece and the European Union. The latest arrivals near Crete are expected to renew discussions over border management, migrant rescue operations, and cooperation with countries of origin and transit, including Libya.
