Greek Coast Guard Rescues 131 Migrants Off Crete

CRETE: The Greek coast guard rescued 131 would-be migrants off the coast of Crete on Saturday, raising the total number of people saved in the area over the past five days to 840, according to a police spokesperson.

The migrants were rescued early Saturday morning from a fishing boat located about 14 nautical miles south of Gavdos, a small island south of Crete. All rescued passengers, whose nationalities were not disclosed, were safely transported to Gavdos.

Read more: 18 Dead, 90 Rescued in Libya Boat Capsizing Tragedy

Crete has increasingly become a major entry point for migrants attempting the dangerous sea crossing from Libya. Many people lose their lives during the perilous journey. Earlier this month, 17 people—mostly Sudanese and Egyptian nationals—were found dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Crete, while 15 others were reported missing. Only two individuals survived the incident.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 16,770 migrants have arrived in Crete since the beginning of the year, the highest number recorded on any Greek island.

In response to the rising influx, Greece’s conservative government suspended the processing of asylum applications for three months in July, particularly for migrants arriving from Libya, describing the move as “absolutely necessary” to manage the growing flow of migrants.