Overview

• 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.