A migrant boat sank off the southern coast of Crete on Friday, leaving at least five people dead and 26 missing, according to Greek authorities.

The shipwreck occurred near Kali Limenes, a coastal area in the Heraklion region of Crete, about 15 nautical miles offshore. A large-scale search and rescue operation remains underway as officials race to locate survivors.

So far, five bodies have been recovered from the sea. Initial reports indicate that dozens of people were on board the vessel when it went down.

Twenty people were rescued by a Panama-flagged container ship that spotted survivors in the water and immediately launched a rescue effort, according to local reports. The rescued individuals were pulled from the sea and brought to safety as part of the ongoing emergency response.

The Hellenic Coast Guard is leading the operation, deploying four vessels to search the area. A Frontex vessel is also heading to the scene to assist in the effort to locate the missing.

Authorities have not yet released details about the nationalities of those on board or the circumstances that led to the sinking. The search operation is continuing as officials work to determine the full scale of the tragedy.