Tragic Shipwreck Near Gavdos: One Dead, 39 Rescued Amid Ongoing Search for Missing Migrants
Greek authorities have confirmed a tragic incident off the southern island of Gavdos, where a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. The coastguard reported that one man was found dead, while 39 others were rescued. The search operation, prompted by eyewitness accounts, continues as many are still unaccounted for.
The capsizing occurred when the boat, thought to have departed from Libya, ran into trouble late Friday night. The coastguard quickly mobilized a search team, utilizing both vessels and aircraft to scour the waters for any additional survivors.
In a string of maritime rescue operations on Saturday, a Malta-flagged cargo vessel intervened to save 47 migrants from another distressed boat approximately 40 nautical miles from Gavdos. Additionally, a nearby tanker rescued another 88 individuals about 28 nautical miles from the island. These incidents reflect a growing trend in the region, as reports suggest that multiple boats may have launched simultaneously from North Africa, specifically Libya.
Greece has long served as a crucial entry point into the European Union for migrants and refugees fleeing turmoil in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. During the peak migrant crisis years of 2015 and 2016, nearly one million people arrived on the Greek islands, often in precarious inflatable dinghies.
In recent months, however, incidents involving migrant vessels and shipwrecks off the coast of Crete and Gavdos have seen a marked increase, as the central Mediterranean remains one of the most perilous migration routes in the world. Authorities are urging increased vigilance and support for legal pathways for migration to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future.
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