Greek authorities rescued 71 people from a boat in distress south of Crete on Tuesday, October 20, in an operation involving the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, and the Hellenic Coast Guard.
The boat was located 52 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes, on Crete’s southern coast. A Frontex vessel recovered the passengers with assistance from a Greek Coast Guard patrol boat, according to an official announcement.
The rescued group included 70 men and one woman. Authorities first transferred them to the port of Kaloi Limenes and then to the port of Heraklion, where the relevant authorities took over the case.
Frontex and the Coast Guard Coordinate the Rescue
The Hellenic Coast Guard said its local authority at Kaloi Limenes received a report early Tuesday about a boat carrying people in distress at sea.
A Frontex vessel took part in the rescue, while a Greek Coast Guard patrol boat assisted with the operation and transfer. The Central Port Authority of Heraklion is conducting a preliminary investigation.
The official announcement did not specify the passengers’ nationalities or provide further details about their departure point.
Several Incidents Reported Around Crete
The Coast Guard’s October 20 update also listed several other incidents involving people found on Crete or rescued at sea. These included groups located near Ierapetra, Maridaki and Gavdos, with separate operations leading to transfers to Heraklion and Souda.
The incidents underline the continued activity of rescue and reception services around Crete. However, individual operations alone do not establish a broader increase in arrivals; that would require comparable official figures over time.
The latest rescue was coordinated through Greece’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center, with Frontex and the Hellenic Coast Guard assisting the people found in distress at sea.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
