On 19 December, Greek authorities conducted one of the largest rescue operations recorded this year so far in the waters south of Crete.
A heavily overcrowded fishing vessel issued a distress call shortly after 3 am while navigating roughly 16 nautical miles southeast of Gavdos. The Hellenic Coast Guard mobilized three patrol boats as well as three FRONTEX vessels. Three nearby commercial vessels joined the rescue operation. Despite the poor condition of the fishing boat and the number of people on board, the operation concluded after several hours without loss of life. All 545 migrants were safely transferred to Coast Guard vessels and transported to Agia Galini on Crete’s southern coast before being moved on to facilities in Rethymno.
The minimally seaworthy, wooden fishing vessel, departed from eastern Libya, probably from the Tubruq area, packed far beyond safe capacity. The migrants were predominantly men from Bangladesh, Egypt, and Pakistan, consistent with the demographic pattern during the surge in departures from eastern Libya throughout 2024 and 2025. The vessel itself matched the profile of other long‑range smuggling boats leaving from the Tubruq area.
Because Gavdos lacks any reception infrastructure and Crete’s facilities are limited, local authorities had to improvise temporary accommodation. The rescued individuals were moved from Agia Galini to a provisional site in the Latzimas area of Rethymno, where emergency shelter was arranged on short notice. Local officials described the logistical strain as significant but manageable.
The same morning, a second vessel carrying 32 migrants was intercepted by FRONTEX south of Gavdos, underscoring the intensity of traffic along this route. Those individuals were taken to Chania for processing. In two more separate incidents, 27 migrants were rescued 45 nm southeast of Kaloi Limenes and 35 more 2.5 nm southeast of Psari Forada. Both are located on the south coast of Crete.