20 migrants die trying to reach Greece’s Crete

Twenty people died in two separate incidents while trying to reach the Greek island of Crete, the Greek coast guard said on Monday, November 9. About 46 people were rescued.

The first rescue began late on Saturday, November 7, after a boat sent a distress signal. Strong winds made conditions at sea difficult, the coast guard said.

A passing vessel rescued about 28 people and recovered one body. Authorities said on Sunday that all were Sudanese nationals. The survivors and the body were transferred to a police vessel and taken to Crete.

The coast guard located the boat overnight between Sunday and Monday and found seven more bodies on board, bringing the toll from the first incident to eight. In a separate incident on Monday, November 9, the coast guard found 12 bodies aboard a boat south of Crete and rescued 18 people.

Crete has become one of the main entry points into the European Union for migrants travelling from Libya. The crossing to Greece can be fatal when boats sink or run into trouble at sea.