Greek coast guard authorities rescued and located a total of 268 migrants in five separate incidents south of the island of Crete over the past 24 hours, according to officials.
Three rescue operations were carried out overnight and in the early morning southeast of Kaloi Limenes, a coastal area in southern Crete. In each case, coast guard patrol vessels intercepted boats carrying migrants attempting to reach the island.
A total of 142 people were rescued during those operations and transferred to a temporary accommodation facility in Heraklion.
Authorities said the rescues were part of intensified surveillance measures in the area due to increased migrant activity along the eastern Mediterranean route.
Two additional incidents involving migrant arrivals were also recorded during the same period. In the first case, 83 people were found after disembarking in Tsoutsouros, another coastal area in southern Crete. Hours later, authorities located another 43 people in Kaloi Limenes.
