One dead and 28 rescued in migrant search operation south of Crete

On November 8, 2026, a search and rescue operation was conducted six nautical miles south-southwest of Kali Limenes, Crete, after a Frontex aircraft spotted a boat carrying migrants. The operation, coordinated by the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED), resulted in the rescue of 28 individuals and the recovery of one deceased male.

Assistance was provided by a Panama-flagged container ship and a tugboat present in the area, which facilitated the recovery under difficult weather conditions characterized by north winds reaching 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale. All 28 survivors were transported to the port of Kali Limenes. Following their arrival, two individuals were transferred to the Moires Health Center for medical evaluation and treatment. No further information regarding the cause of death of the deceased or the specific health status of those hospitalized has been released.

This incident occurs as migrant flows toward the southern coasts of Crete persist. A public protest regarding the broader migration situation in Crete is scheduled to take place in Heraklion on Sunday.