Greece Rescues 42 Migrants Off Crete; Search for 3 Missing Continues

A distress call from a boat south of Crete prompted a coordinated rescue effort involving commercial vessels and a Greek navy helicopter.

The boat sent a distress signal 27 nautical miles southwest of Crete, alerting the Italian coast guard overnight.
Forty migrants were rescued by nearby ships, and two more were saved by a Greek navy helicopter.
Survivors reported that three individuals remain unaccounted for, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations.
Crete and nearby Gavdos have seen increased migrant arrivals from Libya in recent months.
Greece remains a primary entry point to the EU for migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.