Greece rescues 44 migrants near Gavdos island

Greek authorities carried out a rescue operation early on Saturday after a FRONtex aircraft located a boat with 44 migrants about 45 nautical miles south of the island of Gavdos. The operation was coordinated by the Unified Coordination Centre for Search and Rescue (EKSED) and involved the Hellenic Coast Guard.

The migrants were taken aboard a Singapore‑flagged commercial vessel that responded to the Greek request for assistance. They were later transferred to the port of Palaiochora in Chania, under escort of a Coast Guard launch for registration and identification. The rescue follows a recent operation that saved 31 migrants south of Crete, highlighting the ongoing migration route in the waters south of the Greek islands.