At least 17 migrants and asylum seekers have been found dead in a partially deflated boat off the Greek island of Crete, Greece’s coastguard said on Saturday. Two people were rescued alive but are in critical condition.
The bodies were discovered about 26 nautical miles (48km) southwest of Crete. Officials said all of the victims were men.
A spokeswoman for the Greek coastguard told AFP that autopsies will determine how they died, as the exact circumstances of the sinking remain unclear.
Survivors Say Vessel Became Unstable in Bad Weather
The alarm was raised when a Turkish cargo ship spotted the distressed vessel and notified the authorities. Greece’s coastguard deployed two patrol boats, while EU border agency Frontex joined the operation with a vessel, an aircraft and a Super Puma helicopter.
According to the coastguard, the two survivors said the boat became unstable during rough weather. They also said they had no protection from the elements and had gone without food and water. By the time rescuers reached them, the vessel was already taking on water.
Manolis Frangoulis, the mayor of the Cretan port of Ierapetra, said all those who died were young. He added that the boat was deflated on two sides, forcing the passengers into an extremely cramped space.
Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that coroners are examining whether dehydration may have contributed to the deaths.
Crete Becomes New Route for Migrants From Libya
Crete has increasingly become a destination for migrants trying to reach European Union territory from Libya. More than 16,770 asylum seekers have arrived on the island since the start of the year, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
In July, Greece’s conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis suspended asylum hearings for migrants, focusing particularly on those travelling from Libya to Crete.
Libya has remained unstable since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted and killed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, leaving the country divided between rival factions and fuelling dangerous migration routes across the Mediterranean.