A fresh rise in migrant arrivals was recorded during the early hours of Thursday, May 18, south of Crete and Gavdos, as the Hellenic Coast Guard, supported by FRONTEX forces, carried out four successive search-and-rescue operations involving a total of 202 foreign nationals across different parts of the region.
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the first incident unfolded when a migrant boat was spotted by a FRONTEX aerial surveillance aircraft approximately 53 nautical miles south-southwest of Ierapetra. A Coast Guard patrol vessel subsequently rescued 44 people, who are being transferred to the port of Kali Limenes.
Shortly afterward, a second boat was detected by another FRONTEX aircraft 37 nautical miles south of Kali Limenes. Coast Guard officers rescued 60 migrants from the vessel and transported them to the same port.
In a third operation, a FRONTEX patrol vessel located and rescued 35 migrants aboard a boat approximately 30 nautical miles south of Gavdos. The rescued individuals were taken to the island’s port.
The fourth incident occurred 16 nautical miles south of Gavdos, where a FRONTEX aircraft identified another migrant vessel. A FRONTEX ship recovered 63 people, who are also being transferred to the port of Gavdos.
The Hellenic Coast Guard said all operations were completed safely, while the competent authorities are proceeding with the required registration and identification procedures for those rescued.
