Greek authorities rescued more than 540 migrants from an overcrowded fishing boat south of Crete on Friday, highlighting a sharp and dangerous rise in arrivals from Libya to Greece’s remote southern islands.

The Hellenic Coast Guard launched a major search and rescue operation after receiving a distress call in the early hours of December 19. The vessel, found dangerously overloaded about 16 nautical miles southeast of the island of Gavdos, was assisted by three coast guard ships, three vessels from the European border agency Frontex, and several commercial ships. All 545 people aboard were safely transferred to the port of Agia Galini on Crete.

In a separate incident the same day, Frontex spotted another boat with 32 migrants, who were also rescued and taken to Crete. No injuries were reported in either operation.

The rescues underscore a dramatic shift in migration patterns. Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost territory with fewer than 100 permanent residents, has become an increasingly active landing point. Smuggling networks operating from eastern Libya, particularly Tobruk, are now frequently using the approximately 180-mile route to Gavdos, adapting to heightened surveillance on more traditional Central Mediterranean paths toward Italy.

Local officials warn the island risks becoming a "Greek Lampedusa," referencing the Italian island long on the frontlines of migration. Arrivals on Gavdos and Crete—primarily from Egypt, Sudan, and Bangladesh—now occur almost daily. Migrants report paying smugglers between 2,000 and 5,000 euros for the perilous, 36-hour journey.

The route remains extremely hazardous. Boats are often unseaworthy and grossly overcrowded, leading to frequent tragedies. In November, at least three people died when a dinghy capsized south of Gavdos. Earlier in December, a shipwreck off Crete claimed the lives of at least 32 people, most of them young Egyptians, according to Egypt’s ambassador to Greece.

Despite the dangers, arrivals are skyrocketing. More than 7,300 migrants reached Crete and Gavdos in the first half of 2025 alone, surpassing the total for all of 2024. To date, more than 17,000 have arrived this year, straining local resources on Crete, where new arrivals receive temporary shelter and basic aid before being moved to other facilities.

The surge marks a return of Greece as a primary entry point to Europe, reminiscent of the 2015-16 migration crisis. In response, the Greek government has increased patrols and temporarily suspended asylum processing for arrivals from North Africa. Greek authorities have also arrested numerous suspected smugglers identified by survivors.

At the European level, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus are slated to receive additional support under a new EU migration pact set for mid-2026. The bloc has also approved stricter rules aimed at combating smuggling and accelerating returns, while urging Libyan authorities to curb departures from eastern ports.

For now, with no reception facilities on Gavdos and limited capacity on Crete, local municipalities and rescue services remain on the front line of a growing humanitarian and logistical challenge. (ILKHA)