ATHENS — At least 21 people have died trying to reach the Greek island of Crete, authorities said on Monday, Nov. 9, Al Jazeera and CBS News reported. The two outlets’ tallies differ slightly: CBS News’ figures add up to 22 (TBR calculation).
Related: Greek Coastguard Searches for 59 Migrants Missing After Boat Sank Off Crete.
What happened
The Greek coast guard said bodies were recovered from a boat found south of Crete early Monday after a container ship spotted it. Al Jazeera reported 12 bodies, CBS News reported 13, and both said 18 people were rescued, one of whom later died. Greek authorities told Al Jazeera the boat may have been at sea for days, struggling against strong winds.
In a separate incident late Saturday, the coast guard recovered eight bodies and rescued about 28 people from a boat off southern Crete, with two people still missing, Al Jazeera said. CBS News, citing AFP, said the survivors were all Sudanese nationals and that two Sudanese citizens were arrested as suspected smugglers. Those arrests are allegations.
More boats at sea
Frontex, the EU’s border agency, used aircraft and drones to find other boats south of the island, including one with about 47 people and another with about 40. The coast guard said more than 180 others were found on three boats on Monday morning, CBS News reported.
The wider route
Frontex said irregular crossings into the EU are down by a third so far this year. It recorded about 31,800 crossings on the eastern Mediterranean route in the first three quarters of 2026, a 15% fall from a year earlier, and said the Libya-to-Crete corridor was that route’s busiest section, according to CBS News.
CBS News also reported that the toll from a migrant boat capsizing off Senegal has risen to 39.
What happens next
The identities of most of the dead and the cause of the deaths on Monday’s boat were not immediately known. More is on our World News page.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: At least 21 migrants and refugees die trying to reach Greece’s Crete
- CBS News: Dozens of migrants dead on boats in Europe, scores rescued
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