Irregular migration to the Greek island of Crete has reached unprecedented levels in 2025, with official estimates showing that nearly 21,000 undocumented migrants arrived by sea by the end of the year. The sharp increase has placed heavy pressure on temporary accommodation facilities and local authorities, particularly in the cities of Heraklion and Chania.
According to officials, irregular sea arrivals continued throughout December without any sign of slowing down. Giorgos Sfakianakis, president of the Union of Coast Guard Personnel of Eastern Crete, said the situation remains critical, especially during periods of good weather when boats arrive one after another. He stressed that the current migration flows are constant and intense, making it difficult for authorities on the ground to cope.
Sfakianakis pointed out that thousands of migrants are currently gathered along the Libyan coastline, waiting for an opportunity to cross into Europe. At present, Crete has become the main entry point, increasing pressure on the island’s already stretched resources. He said Greece has experience in managing migration, but authorities must adapt their planning to reflect the current realities.
The scale of the increase becomes clearer when compared with previous years. In 2023, Crete recorded only 21 rescue incidents and 798 migrant arrivals. In 2024, rescue operations rose sharply to 102, with arrivals reaching about 5,050. By contrast, in 2025 alone, more than 350 rescue incidents were recorded, with over 20,800 undocumented migrants arriving by late December.
The situation worsened during the holiday period. From Christmas Day to December 28, around 900 migrants reached Crete by sea. This figure alone exceeds the total number of arrivals recorded throughout the whole of 2023, highlighting the growing strain on the Coast Guard, local governments, and emergency services.
To ease pressure on the island, hundreds of undocumented migrants have been transferred from Crete to mainland Greece in recent days. Authorities in Heraklion and Chania arranged ferry transfers, while temporary reception sites continue to host new arrivals as they await relocation.
Eleni Zervoudaki, Deputy Mayor of Social Policy for the Municipality of Chania, said the city now accounts for more than 56 percent of all irregular migrant arrivals on the island. She described conditions at the former exhibition center used for temporary accommodation as similar to peak summer periods, due to the continuous inflow of migrants, most of whom are arriving from North Africa.
As arrivals continue to rise, local officials and coast guard personnel are calling for urgent policy changes, better planning, and stronger coordination to manage the growing migration pressure on Crete and prevent further strain on communities and services.