Copyright AP Photo
By Euronews with ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Published on 06/07/2025 -
Greece's national coast guard say they've conducted multiple successful operations where hundreds of illegal migrants were intercepted and safely transported to shore.
In a series of large-scale operations under the coordination of the Unified Search and Rscue Coordination Centre (ESRC) and with the assistance of the Greek coast guard, more than 753 immigrants were rescued in the sea surrounding the island of Gavdos.
According to the national Greek coast guard - Hellenic Coast Guard - the largest operation was recorded 25 nautical miles southeast of Gavdos, where 430 people aboard an overloaded fishing boat were rescued. They were assisted by a patrol boat and a tanker flying the flag of Panama. The rescued persons were transported to the port of Agia Galini.
Earlier, 67 other migrants were spotted 30 nautical miles south of Gavdos by a cargo ship flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. They were also intercepted and transferred to the port of Palaiochora in Crete.
In a separate incident, close to two dozen others were intercepted by a coast guard patrol boat near Gavdos and were taken to the island.
More than 70 other were located 32 nautical miles south of Limeni. They were rescued with help from a Portuguese cargo ship and taken safely to the local port.
Two other vessels also arrived in the coastal areas of the municipalities of Gortyna and Heraklion in the nearby island of Crete. All rescued persons were transferred to safe first reception points, where they were registered, administered food, water and treatment.
In a series of large-scale operations under the coordination of the Unified Search and Rscue Coordination Centre (ESRC) and with the assistance of the Greek coast guard, more than 753 immigrants were rescued in the sea surrounding the island of Gavdos.
According to the national Greek coast guard - Hellenic Coast Guard - the largest operation was recorded 25 nautical miles southeast of Gavdos, where 430 people aboard an overloaded fishing boat were rescued. They were assisted by a patrol boat and a tanker flying the flag of Panama. The rescued persons were transported to the port of Agia Galini.
Earlier, 67 other migrants were spotted 30 nautical miles south of Gavdos by a cargo ship flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. They were also intercepted and transferred to the port of Palaiochora in Crete.
In a separate incident, close to two dozen others were intercepted by a coast guard patrol boat near Gavdos and were taken to the island.
More than 70 other were located 32 nautical miles south of Limeni. They were rescued with help from a Portuguese cargo ship and taken safely to the local port.
Two other vessels also arrived in the coastal areas of the municipalities of Gortyna and Heraklion in the nearby island of Crete. All rescued persons were transferred to safe first reception points, where they were registered, administered food, water and treatment.
Hundreds more asylum-seekers found near Crete: Coastguard
ATHENS
Migrants rescued at sea off the Greek island of Crete disembark from a Greek coast guard lifeguard vessel in the port of Agia Galini before being tranferred on July 6, 2025. (Photo by Costas METAXAKIS / AFP)
Greece's coastguard Monday said it had rescued around 230 asylum seekers near the island of Crete, after hundreds more landed over the weekend.
Haberin Devamı
An EU border agency Frontex vessel initially spotted the migrants inside two inflatable boats off Gavdos, a small island southwest of Crete that has seen increased migrant traffic in recent months.
On Julu 6, the Greek coastguard rescued over 600 asylum seekers in various operations in the area.
According to the coastguard, 7,300 asylum seekers have reached Gavdos and Crete this year, compared to fewer than 5,000 last year.
Over 2,500 arrivals have been recorded since June alone.
With Gavdos lacking any significant accommodation facilities, all the migrants are either housed in municipal buildings or transferred to Crete.
The migrants are largely believed to be sailing from Libya, prompting a visit by Greece's Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on July 6.
Gerapetritis is also scheduled to hold talks with the U.N.-recognised government in Tripoli on July 15.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also raised the issue with EU counterparts in Brussels last month.
Mitsotakis has announced that two Greek navy ships will be deployed outside Libyan waters to stem the flow.
The North African country has remained deeply divided since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled and killed longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi.
ATHENS
Migrants rescued at sea off the Greek island of Crete disembark from a Greek coast guard lifeguard vessel in the port of Agia Galini before being tranferred on July 6, 2025. (Photo by Costas METAXAKIS / AFP)
Greece's coastguard Monday said it had rescued around 230 asylum seekers near the island of Crete, after hundreds more landed over the weekend.
Haberin Devamı
An EU border agency Frontex vessel initially spotted the migrants inside two inflatable boats off Gavdos, a small island southwest of Crete that has seen increased migrant traffic in recent months.
On Julu 6, the Greek coastguard rescued over 600 asylum seekers in various operations in the area.
According to the coastguard, 7,300 asylum seekers have reached Gavdos and Crete this year, compared to fewer than 5,000 last year.
Over 2,500 arrivals have been recorded since June alone.
With Gavdos lacking any significant accommodation facilities, all the migrants are either housed in municipal buildings or transferred to Crete.
The migrants are largely believed to be sailing from Libya, prompting a visit by Greece's Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar on July 6.
Gerapetritis is also scheduled to hold talks with the U.N.-recognised government in Tripoli on July 15.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also raised the issue with EU counterparts in Brussels last month.
Mitsotakis has announced that two Greek navy ships will be deployed outside Libyan waters to stem the flow.
The North African country has remained deeply divided since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled and killed longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi.
Greece detains 1,200 migrants in three days as arrivals from Libya surge
Authorities in Greece say more than 1,200 migrants have been detained on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a surge in arrivals from Libya
ByELENA BECATOROS
Authorities in Greece say more than 1,200 migrants have been detained on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a surge in arrivals from Libya
ByELENA BECATOROS
Associated Press
July 7, 2025
GAVDOS, Greece -- Authorities in Greece say more than 1,200 migrants have been detained on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a surge in arrivals from Libya.
The coast guard said multiple boats were intercepted off Crete’s southern coast from Saturday through Monday, prompting regional officials to request additional government assistance.
The uptick in arrivals coincided with a visit by Greece’s foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, to Libya for talks with both the internationally recognized government and a rival administration, amid efforts to address the growing migration crisis and a maritime boundary dispute.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said patrols by the coast guard and navy in the region are likely to be intensified. He added that approximately 8,000 migrants have reached Crete since the start of the year.
“It’s a complex and extremely serious issue. Crete and its residents are under significant strain,” Marinakis said. “We hope that all the diplomatic efforts will bear fruit. Otherwise, we will be forced to adopt stricter and far more large-scale measures to ensure the country is protected.”
Migrants typically make the 350-kilometer (220-mile) journey to Crete in unseaworthy boats — often hastily constructed to survive a single voyage or in abandoned vessels modified in scrapyards.
Gavdos, a tiny island south of Crete, has been overwhelmed by arrivals. Boats and dinghies remain washed up on its pebble beaches, many of them accessible only on foot.
On one remote beach, David, a migrant from war-torn South Sudan, sat with five others as they rested to decide what to do next.
Speaking to The Associated Press, he said smugglers beat several people during the journey and demanded more money than originally agreed.
“After you pay the money, everything is by force. If you talk, they hit you,” he said. “The boat was very dangerous — too many people.”
David, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said he hoped to stay anywhere in Europe.
“We didn’t come to cause a problem. We came to save our lives,” he said. “If you stay, you die.”
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner is expected to travel to Libya this week with government representatives from Greece, Italy and Malta to push for tougher action from Libyan authorities to curb migrant departures for Europe.
July 7, 2025
GAVDOS, Greece -- Authorities in Greece say more than 1,200 migrants have been detained on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following a surge in arrivals from Libya.
The coast guard said multiple boats were intercepted off Crete’s southern coast from Saturday through Monday, prompting regional officials to request additional government assistance.
The uptick in arrivals coincided with a visit by Greece’s foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, to Libya for talks with both the internationally recognized government and a rival administration, amid efforts to address the growing migration crisis and a maritime boundary dispute.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said patrols by the coast guard and navy in the region are likely to be intensified. He added that approximately 8,000 migrants have reached Crete since the start of the year.
“It’s a complex and extremely serious issue. Crete and its residents are under significant strain,” Marinakis said. “We hope that all the diplomatic efforts will bear fruit. Otherwise, we will be forced to adopt stricter and far more large-scale measures to ensure the country is protected.”
Migrants typically make the 350-kilometer (220-mile) journey to Crete in unseaworthy boats — often hastily constructed to survive a single voyage or in abandoned vessels modified in scrapyards.
Gavdos, a tiny island south of Crete, has been overwhelmed by arrivals. Boats and dinghies remain washed up on its pebble beaches, many of them accessible only on foot.
On one remote beach, David, a migrant from war-torn South Sudan, sat with five others as they rested to decide what to do next.
Speaking to The Associated Press, he said smugglers beat several people during the journey and demanded more money than originally agreed.
“After you pay the money, everything is by force. If you talk, they hit you,” he said. “The boat was very dangerous — too many people.”
David, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said he hoped to stay anywhere in Europe.
“We didn’t come to cause a problem. We came to save our lives,” he said. “If you stay, you die.”
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner is expected to travel to Libya this week with government representatives from Greece, Italy and Malta to push for tougher action from Libyan authorities to curb migrant departures for Europe.
___ Derek Gatopoulos contributed from Athens, Greece ___ Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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