Migrant Boat Death Toll Rises to 14 Off Southern Crete, Greek Coast Guard Says

Greek authorities recovered 13 bodies from a migrant vessel found sailing south of the island of Crete early Monday, and a 14th person later died at a health centre on the island after being rescued, the coast guard said. The boat was located about 15 nautical miles, roughly 28 kilometres, south of Crete.

The coast guard initially reported recovering 12 bodies from the vessel, while a Morocco-flagged cargo ship passing nearby rescued 18 other people on board. All of those rescued were taken to Crete. The agency later revised the number of bodies recovered to 13, saying four of the 18 survivors were transported to local health centres. One of them was already unconscious when an ambulance arrived.

No immediate information was available on the identities or nationalities of those on board, or on what caused the deaths.

In a separate operation the same morning, more than 180 people were found on three other boats travelling across the Mediterranean from North Africa toward Crete. The vessels carried about 47, 40 and 100 people respectively, and all three were spotted by aircraft or drones operated by Frontex, the European Union's border agency. Those on board were due to be taken to Crete.

The route from Libya to Crete has become one of the main migrant pathways into Europe in recent months, with thousands making the perilous sea crossing. Greece remains one of the principal entry points into the 27-nation EU for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.