Tragedy Off Crete: 13 Migrants Dead, 18 Rescued After Boat Sinks

The Greek coast guard has recovered 13 bodies and rescued 18 migrants from a distressed vessel near Crete on Monday. The discovery was made after the crew of a container ship alerted authorities upon spotting the boat approximately 28 kilometers off the port of Kaloi Limenes. The Morocco-flagged ship facilitated the initial sighting.

Survivors and the deceased were brought ashore. Tragically, one of the four individuals transported to a hospital later succumbed to their injuries. The exact circumstances leading to the deaths remain unclear. Authorities suspect the boat may have been at sea for several days and encountered difficulties reaching the shore due to strong winds.

"We found them shivering from the cold," a local coastguard official anonymously told Reuters. Another coastguard official confirmed to Reuters that a toddler was among the four hospitalized individuals. The remaining survivors are expected to be transferred to a migrant center on Crete.

In separate incidents off Crete on the same day, the coastguard also conducted rescues of 187 migrants. Greece continues to be a significant entry point into Europe for migrants and refugees originating from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The nation was at the epicenter of Europe's migration crisis in 2015-2016, witnessing the arrival of nearly one million people, primarily from Turkey.

While arrivals have decreased following Greece's enhanced maritime and border patrols, there has been an increase in journeys from Libya in recent years. Many individuals undertaking these perilous routes are fleeing conflict in Sudan, as well as poverty and instability in Bangladesh.