At least one dead, 25 missing after boat carrying migrants sinks off Greece

What the report says

A migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Gavdos, near Crete, leaving at least one person dead, 25 missing and 51 rescued, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Greek coastguard officials and public broadcaster ERT News. The vessel reportedly carried 77 people when it went down. Search and rescue operations were continuing on Monday with coastguard ships and helicopters, along with aircraft and boats from the EU border agency Frontex, while strong winds were making the effort more difficult.

Al Jazeera reported that the rescued passengers were expected to be taken to Crete, where authorities would carry out standard procedures for undocumented arrivals. The article said survivors were being brought ashore after being picked up by two nearby boats. It also noted that Gavdos and Crete, both south of mainland Greece and closer to North Africa than much of the Greek coast, have become major entry points for people seeking asylum in Greece.

The sinking comes amid wider pressure on Greece’s migration system. Al Jazeera said migrant arrivals have fallen in recent months compared with the previous year, but the government has kept a tougher line on sea crossings from North Africa, including a temporary suspension of some asylum claims. The report added that Athens is considering stricter detention and deportation measures, as European countries continue to debate how to handle irregular migration across the Mediterranean.