NewzIt said search efforts continued for the approximately 25 missing people, as survivors said there were 77 people on the boat. Greece's ANA news agency reported that migrant arrivals fell from about 61,000 in the year to August 2025 to 42,000 in the following 12 months, a decline of around 31%. (Twitter pic/The Libya Update) ATHENS: One person died and 25 remained missing after a boat filled with migrants sank off the Greek island of Gavdos, near Crete, the coast guard told AFP on Monday."Fifty-one were picked up by two boats that were in the area," a coastguard spokesman said, adding that according to those plucked from the sea, 77 people were on board the boat when it went down.Crete and Gavdos, about 320km from the Libyan coast, have become the main point of entry for asylum seekers in Greece.In late August, Greece's ANA news agency published figures from the immigration ministry that indicated that migrant arrivals in Greece fell from about 61,000 in the year to August 2025 to 42,000 in the following 12 months -- a decline of around 31%.Authorities in Europe have tightened their immigration rules over recent years as far-right, anti-immigrant parties have won increasing support.Greece's immigration minister Thanos Plevris has pushed a strict policy on arrivals.Greece has been in discussions with Germany and several other EU countries on setting up "return hubs" outside the bloc for processing migrants' claims.
At least 51 people have been rescued after a migrant boat partially sank south of the Greek island of Gavdos, with around 25 people still missing, according to the Greek Coast Guard. The incident unfolded on Sunday night as authorities launched a major search and rescue operation in the waters south of Gavdos. According to survivors, 77 people were aboard the boat when it partially sank.
Nearby vessels managed to rescue 51 foreign nationals from the sea, while one person was found unconscious. Around 25 people remained missing as the search continued. Four vessels in the area and two boats operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex took part in the initial rescue effort.Advertising1PGRpdiBpZD0iZ3JlZWstMjM2NTMwMTUyIiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IGF1dG87bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiBhdXRvO3RleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlcjsiIGNsYXNzPSJnYXNfZmFsbGJhY2stYWRfNTgyNTM3LWFkXzU5MTk5LXBsYWNlbWVudF81NjQwMDcgZ3JlZWstMnRhcmdldCIgZGF0YS1ncmVlay0ydHJhY2tpZD0iNTgyNTM3IiBkYXRhLWdyZWVrLTJ0cmFja2JpZD0iMSI+PHNjcmlwdCBhc3luYyBzcmM9Ii8vcGFnZWFkMi5nb29nbGVzeW5kaWNhdGlvbi5jb20vcGFnZWFkL2pzL2Fkc2J5Z29vZ2xlLmpzP2NsaWVudD1jYS1wdWItOTY5NjMxMDQxMDkwMDgxMSIgY3Jvc3NvcmlnaW49ImFub255bW91cyI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+PGlucyBjbGFzcz0iYWRzYnlnb29nbGUiIHN0eWxlPSJkaXNwbGF5OmJsb2NrOyIgZGF0YS1hZC1jbGllbnQ9ImNhLXB1Yi05Njk2MzEwNDEwOTAwODExIiAKZGF0YS1hZC1zbG90PSIzNzU1NTUzMjg4IiAKZGF0YS1hZC1mb3JtYXQ9ImF1dG8iPjwvaW5zPgo8c2NyaXB0PiAKKGFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlID0gd2luZG93LmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlIHx8IFtdKS5wdXNoKHt9KTsgCjwvc2NyaXB0Pgo8L2Rpdj4= A Greek Coast Guard vessel, another Frontex vessel and a helicopter were also dispatched to the area to assist with the ongoing search.
The operation was continuing late Sunday night as authorities searched the surrounding waters for survivors. The incident comes amid a continued increase in migrant boat arrivals towards Crete and the southern Greek islands, which have become a major route for crossings from North Africa. The number of people rescued, missing and aboard the vessel remains subject to confirmation as the search and rescue operation continues.
Source: Reuters Advertising1PGRpdiBpZD0iZ3JlZWstMjM2NTMwMTUyIiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IGF1dG87bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiBhdXRvO3RleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlcjsiIGNsYXNzPSJnYXNfZmFsbGJhY2stYWRfNTgyNTM3LWFkXzU5MTk5LXBsYWNlbWVudF80NTU4NTIgZ3JlZWstMnRhcmdldCIgZGF0YS1ncmVlay0ydHJhY2tpZD0iNTgyNTM3IiBkYXRhLWdyZWVrLTJ0cmFja2JpZD0iMSI+PHNjcmlwdCBhc3luYyBzcmM9Ii8vcGF… A boat carrying migrants sank near the Greek island of Gavdos, resulting in one death and leaving 25 people missing. The Greek coast guard rescued 51 individuals from the sea.
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