Over 150 migrants rescued off the coast of Crete

On October 23, 2026, Greek authorities and the European border agency Frontex conducted search and rescue operations for migrants in the maritime area south of Kaloi Limenes, Crete. While initial reports mentioned 48 individuals, official updates from the Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed that a total of 152 people were rescued across three separate incidents identified by a Frontex drone during the early hours.

The operations were coordinated by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center. In the first incident, a vessel with approximately 64 people was located 50 nautical miles south-southeast of Kaloi Limenes and assisted by Frontex. A second vessel carrying about 50 people was rescued 8 nautical miles south of the area by a coast guard vessel, while a third boat with approximately 38 individuals was intercepted 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Kaloi Limenes by a patrol craft. All rescued migrants were safely transported to the port of Kaloi Limenes.

These rescues occur amidst ongoing Mediterranean migration flows toward Europe. Local authorities managed the disembarkation of all individuals, and no further details regarding the health of the migrants or specific processing procedures were disclosed by the sources.