Egypt says 18 of its nationals remain missing after a migrant boat overturned off the Greek island of Crete last week in a disaster that claimed four lives.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said 21 Egyptians were aboard the wooden vessel at the time of the incident. Rescue teams recovered three bodies, while the remaining 18 have not been located.
Crete rescue operation as Egypt confirms 18 missing
The vessel had departed from Libya carrying 50 people, including four minors, when Greek authorities received a distress signal late on Friday. The Coast Guard redirected a nearby commercial cargo ship to assist roughly 15 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes.
Officials say the accident occurred as passengers attempted to transfer to the cargo vessel. As migrants climbed ladders to board the larger ship, a sudden shift in weight destabilized the overcrowded boat, causing it to capsize.
Recovery efforts and confirmed victims
A Frontex patrol vessel retrieved three victims shortly after the capsize. Hours later, search teams located a fourth victim, a 28-year-old woman from Sudan.
Authorities transferred her body to the University General Hospital of Heraklion for autopsy. Search operations continue as families await news about the missing Egyptians.
Authorities probe smuggling network
Greek authorities arrested two Sudanese men, aged 25 and 19, after survivors identified them as suspected smugglers. Judicial authorities in Crete ordered both men into pre-trial detention.
Prosecutors accuse them of transporting third-country nationals into Greece for profit, an offense that led to multiple deaths, as well as illegal entry. They also face charges of negligent homicide and causing a shipwreck.
The two suspects deny the accusations and claim that an Egyptian man organized the voyage before abandoning the boat.
Second vessel intercepted off Crete as Egypt tracks missing nationals
Authorities also intercepted a second vessel hours later in the same maritime zone carrying 66 additional migrants.
Investigators are examining that case as well, while a third suspect has denied involvement in a trafficking network.
