Greek authorities have detained more than 1,200 migrants on the island of Crete and the nearby islet of Gavdos in the past three days, following a sharp rise in arrivals from Libya, officials said on Monday.
The Hellenic Coast Guard reported that multiple boats were intercepted off the southern coast of Crete since Saturday, prompting local authorities to call for additional support from the central government.
At least 489 undocumented migrants were brought ashore in two separate operations on Monday, the coast guard said.
The surge in arrivals comes amid heightened diplomatic activity, including a visit by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to Libya for talks with both the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and a rival eastern administration. Discussions focused on stemming migrant flows and addressing a longstanding maritime boundary dispute.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said maritime patrols by the coast guard and navy are expected to increase in the coming days.
“It’s a complex and extremely serious issue. Crete and its residents are under significant strain,” Marinakis told reporters. “We hope that diplomatic efforts will bear fruit. Otherwise, we will be forced to adopt stricter and far more large-scale measures to ensure the country is protected.”
Authorities estimate that around 8,000 migrants have arrived on Crete since the beginning of the year.
Many migrants undertake the roughly 350-kilometre crossing from Libya in unseaworthy boats, often hastily assembled or repurposed from derelict vessels. Gavdos, a remote island south of Crete with a population of fewer than 100 people, has struggled to cope with the sudden influx. Dozens of abandoned boats and rubber dinghies remain strewn across its rugged coastline.
On one isolated beach, a South Sudanese man named David described the ordeal of his journey. Speaking to The Associated Press, he said smugglers had beaten several passengers and demanded more money mid-voyage.
“After you pay the money, everything is by force. If you talk, they hit you,” he said. “The boat was very dangerous – too many people.”
David, who declined to give his last name, said he was seeking refuge anywhere in Europe. “We didn’t come to cause a problem. We came to save our lives,” he said. “If you stay, you die.”