At least 14 dead after boat carrying migrants found near Crete

At least 14 people have died after a boat carrying migrants was found near Crete, Greek authorities have said.

Thirteen bodies were recovered from the boat, which was found 15 nautical miles (18 land miles) south of the Mediterranean island on Monday morning.

Eighteen other people from the same boat were rescued by a passing Moroccan-flagged cargo ship. One of those also later died, taking the number of fatalities to 14.

More than 180 people were found on three other boats heading across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya in North Africa to Crete on Monday morning, the coastguard confirmed.

All the people on board the three boats would be taken to Crete, it added.

There is no further information about the identities of the 14 people who died in Monday's tragedy, or the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Greece is a primary point of entry for entry into the European Union (EU) for people fleeing war, poverty and persecution in the Middle East, Asia and parts of Africa.

The perilous crossing from Libya to Crete has been made by thousands of people in recent months.

Many also make the journey from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, often in unseaworthy inflatable dinghies or other small boats.

Last month, 12 people, including a child, died when two boats traveling from Turkey to the islands of Lesbos and Samos capsized.

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Frontex, the EU's border agency, said about 31,800 irregular border crossings were detected on the eastern Mediterranean route in the first three quarters of 2026, making it the busiest route into the bloc.

According to the agency, this was a fall of 15% compared with the same period last year, while detections of irregular border crossings into the EU fell by almost a third overall.

(c) Sky News 2026: At least 14 dead after boat carrying migrants found near Crete