Overview
- Greek Coast Guard located the vessel about 16 nautical miles south of Gavdos on Friday and transferred those on board to Crete.
- Authorities said the group includes people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territory.
- Those rescued will receive health checks in Crete before their asylum claims are processed, according to the coastguard.
- In a separate incident on Thursday, Frontex rescued 65 men and five women from two boats in distress off Gavdos.
- The uptick in arrivals to Crete and Gavdos continues as the EU’s migration pact takes effect in mid-2026 with added support mechanisms, while Greece plans to prioritize deportations of rejected applicants.