Migrants rescued off the coast of Crete following journey from Libya

On March 24, 2026, Greek maritime authorities conducted a rescue operation for a migrant boat located southeast of Kali Limenes, Crete. Sources differ on the number of survivors and the timeline, with reports citing between 26 and 31 rescued individuals. According to testimonies from the survivors, the boat departed from Tobruk, Libya, with 48 people on board. Survivors alleged that 22 passengers died during the six-day voyage due to harsh conditions and that their bodies were discarded at sea under the direction of smugglers. One 15-year-old national from South Sudan was arrested on charges including illegal entry and facilitating human smuggling. Two of the rescued individuals were hospitalized in Heraklion for medical care. Authorities from the Heraklion Central Port Authority are investigating the incident, noting that passengers paid between 13,000 and 15,000 Libyan dinars for the crossing.