In a heartbreaking incident, at least thirteen individuals lost their lives after a migrant vessel capsized off the coast of Crete, Greece. The Greek coastguard reported the rescue of eighteen Sudanese survivors from the sunken boat, with four requiring immediate medical attention, including a young toddler. Authorities are currently investigating the causes behind the fatal accident, suspecting that the vessel had been adrift for days due to unfavorable weather conditions. Crete remains a primary transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe from the Middle East and North Africa, with over 22,000 arrivals in 2021 alone – accounting for nearly a quarter of this year's total sea crossings. An anonymous coastguard official disclosed that the survivors were found shivering from the cold, having been spotted by a Moroccan-flagged container ship approximately 15 nautical miles off Crete's shores. Simultaneously, the Greek coastguard saved an additional 187 people in three separate incidents on Monday. The influx of migrants into Greece has surpassed previous records, with over 37,000 arrivals in 2021 already eclipsing the total for the entire year of 2025. In response to this escalating crisis, the Greek government has announced plans to establish a temporary housing complex near Heraklion, Crete's capital. Greece experienced a migration crisis in 2015-16, when nearly a million people arrived on its shores, primarily from Turkey. Crossings from Libya have since increased significantly, with many migrants fleeing conflict in Sudan and seeking economic opportunities in countries such as Bangladesh.