Thirteen migrants die after boat sinks off Crete

What the report says

At least 13 migrants have died after a boat sank off the coast of Crete, according to the Greek coastguard cited by BBC World News. The service said it rescued 18 people from the vessel, all of them Sudanese nationals, and that four survivors were taken to hospital, including a toddler. Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the disaster.

The BBC reported that officials believe the boat had been at sea for days and may have been unable to reach shore because of strong winds. A Moroccan-flagged container ship first spotted the vessel around 15 nautical miles off Crete before the rescue operation began. An unnamed coastguard source told Reuters that the survivors were cold, underscoring the harsh conditions faced during the crossing.

Crete has become one of the main entry points for migrants trying to reach Europe from North Africa and the Middle East. The BBC said more than 22,000 of this year’s sea arrivals in Greece have landed on the island, while overall arrivals in Greece have already exceeded the total for all of last year, based on UN figures. The Greek government has said it plans additional measures to respond to the influx, including temporary housing near Heraklion.