Within just a few days, a total of around 830 refugees and migrants were picked up in various rescue operations south of the Greek island of Crete.
December 28, 2025, 09:27December 28, 2025, 09:27
On Friday alone there were almost 400 people, Greek media reported. Fishing boats and patrol boats from the Greek coast guard and the EU border protection agency Frontex were involved in the operations.
Hundreds of refugees were brought ashore in Crete.Image: keystone
According to the Greek coast guard, these were boats with dozens, sometimes more than 100 people on board, including minors. The authorities said the people set sail from Tobruk in Libya and paid large amounts of money for the dangerous, 300-kilometer journey across the open sea. Several people were arrested as suspected smugglers.
According to the coast guard, Crete has already recorded more than 18,000 refugee arrivals this year – last year there were a total of around 5,000. (sda/dpa)