Crete migration: Over 200 migrants detected near Greek island

More than 200 irregular migrants were discovered in the region of the Greek island of Crete during several separate incidents within a 24-hour period. The group included ten women and children, all of whom were successfully transported to land.

Data indicates that the route from eastern Libya to Crete is one of the most active, with approximately 20,000 of the 34,000 migrants who entered Greek territorial waters this year using this specific path. Most arrivals originate from Sudan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Egypt.

The influx has created logistical challenges on Crete, where only one migrant reception center currently operates near Chania. While the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has proposed opening a second center near Heraklion, the plan faces significant local opposition. Consequently, migrants arriving on the eastern side of the island are being redirected to camps in other parts of Greece.