At least three people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the southern coast of Crete, Greece’s public broadcaster ERT reported on Tuesday, citing the coastguard.
According to ERT, a total of 56 people have been rescued so far, while the search for other possible passengers continues in the rough seas.
The Greek coastguard confirmed that rescue efforts were ongoing late Tuesday evening.
A chilling video published by ERT showed the overloaded vessel moments before it overturned.
The clip, recorded by rescuers, captured the cries for help from migrants packed onto the small boat. Seconds later, the video abruptly stopped as the vessel capsized for reasons that remain unclear.
Several coastguard ships, an air force helicopter, and a rescue boat from the EU border protection agency, Frontex, were deployed to the area as part of the emergency response.
Survivors were transported to Crete, where they received immediate medical attention.
Authorities said the rescued migrants told investigators they had departed from the Libyan port city of Tobruk, a key departure point for smugglers attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) revealed that nearly 16,000 migrants have arrived on Crete since the beginning of 2025 a staggering 300 percent increase compared to last year.
Greek officials have attributed the rise to worsening conditions in North Africa and renewed instability in Libya.
The Greek government has since renewed calls for a fairer distribution of asylum seekers across European Union member states.
Athens argues that front-line nations such as Greece, Italy, and Malta continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the migration burden.
The tragic incident off Crete highlights the deadly risks migrants face as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
