Dozens of migrants have died while attempting to reach Spain or the Greek island of Crete, as authorities state that the steady stream of migrants shows no signs of diminishing. Over the weekend, 20 people died, and the Greek coast guard retrieved 12 bodies from a migrant boat found south of Crete early Monday.
In the early hours of Monday, the Hellenic Coast Guard and Frontex conducted three rescue operations off the Greek coast to save 18 people. Furthermore, the coastguard reported that more than 100 people were rescued during several operations off the southern coast of Crete.
Other incidents reported include a boat that encountered a storm off Crete, resulting in at least eight deaths, two missing persons, and 28 rescues. In another case, a boat sailing nearby picked up 28 survivors and one body, all of whom were Sudanese nationals.
Greece continues to be one of the main entry points into the European Union for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.