In the early hours of Tuesday, a total of 76 irregular migrants from Syria, Egypt, Sudan, and Bangladesh arrived on the shores of Gavdos, a small island south of Crete, aboard three separate boats. Among them were six children and four women, all of whom were reported to be in good health. Local fishermen played a vital role in helping the migrants safely reach land.
Gavdos Mayor Lilian Stefanaki confirmed that all 76 passengers are in stable condition. They will be transferred by ferry to Sfakia in Crete, where they will be processed in Hania before being sent to Athens to a migrant reception center. This incident marks the second time during the current tourism season that migrants have reached Gavdos, highlighting the island’s ongoing challenge with such arrivals.
Two of the boats reached the port of Karave on Gavdos’ eastern coast, with the assistance of a local fisherman. The third boat was spotted off the coast of Trypiti, on the southern side of the island, and was guided to the port by another fishing boat.
Mayor Stefanaki emphasized that the attempts by migrants to reach Crete via Gavdos are likely to continue as long as the underlying issues in their home countries remain unresolved. Gavdos, being Greece’s southernmost island, also represents Europe’s southernmost border, making it a frequent target for such migration attempts.