Greece rushes to shelter 181 migrants after multiple boat arrivals in Crete and rescues 62 near Kalamata

Four migrant boats arrived in Ierapetra, Crete, within 24 hours, bringing a total of 181 people. The town’s former school in Makrylia now houses 134 migrants, while two are hospitalized and two are detained. Deputy mayor George Kougioumoutzakis said the local coast guard and the commander of the Cretan Naval Squadron have been called in to manage the unprecedented influx.

In a separate rescue, a UK‑flagged tanker responded to a distress call 62 nautical miles southwest of Cape Tainaros. The vessel safely transferred the migrants to the port of Kalamata, where they will be processed and later moved to inland accommodation by the Kalamata Coast Guard.

Both incidents highlight a sudden surge in sea‑borne migration to southern Greece and the strain on local authorities and rescue services.