Athens, 7 December 2025 —
At least 18 migrants have died after their boat sank off the southern Greek island of Chrissi, according to Greece’s Coast Guard. The incident occurred on Saturday, around 40km from the shoreline.
Officials said a Turkish cargo ship was the first to arrive at the scene shortly after the boat capsized. The ship’s captain alerted Greek authorities, who then launched a rescue operation.
There were reportedly 20 migrants on board the vessel. Only two were rescued alive, while the remaining 18 are missing and presumed dead, Coast Guard officials said. The two survivors were taken to the nearby island of Crete for medical care.
Since 2015–16, thousands of undocumented migrants have attempted the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from the coasts of Libya, Turkey, and Morocco to reach Europe, particularly Greece and Italy. Greece currently hosts more than one million such migrants in various shelters across the country.
Migrants heading for Greece typically depart from Libya, aiming for the islands of Crete, Gavdos, or Chrissi — the nearest points from the Libyan coast. However, bad weather, engine problems, and overcrowded boats frequently lead to
