Wooden Ship Full of Migrants Capsizes in Southern Crete, Dozens Missing in Maritime Accident

A tragic maritime accident occurred off the coast of Crete on Saturday morning. A wooden boat carrying around 50 migrants met a disastrous fate during a storm in extremely dangerous sea conditions. This incident is one of the deadliest migrant accidents in the Mediterranean region, leaving at least five dead and more than 20 missing without a trace.

Extreme Weather Conditions Trigger Tragic Accident

At the time of the accident, the waters around Crete were battered by strong winds reaching a scale of 6, accompanied by waves about 2.5 meters high. These harsh weather conditions created a highly dangerous environment for small vessels. Eyewitnesses reported that the wooden boat, carrying dozens of passengers, was in a state of emergency as large waves continued to rock it. The combination of strong winds and high waves made navigation extremely difficult and uncontrollable.

Boat Capsized During Rescue Operation

The tragedy worsened when a rescue vessel approached to provide assistance. Upon seeing the rescue ship, many migrants on the wooden boat moved en masse to one side in an attempt to get closer to the rescue vessel. This mass movement caused an imbalance in the boat’s load distribution, leading it to lose stability and capsize in the open sea. Survivors reported that about 50 people were on board at the time of the accident, in a chaotic and panicked situation.

Search and Rescue Operations Continue

Emergency response was immediately initiated after the boat capsized. A Panama-flagged cargo ship nearby managed to rescue 20 individuals from the water. Meanwhile, Greek Coast Guard, in cooperation with teams from the Border and Coast Guard Agency of Europe, carried out intensive search and rescue operations. Rescue teams have recovered several bodies in the vicinity of the accident site. The search efforts are ongoing, with various maritime assets mobilized to locate the missing victims.

Authorities remain vigilant, concerned that the death toll may rise as more bodies are found during the ongoing search operations. The wooden boat carrying migrants stands as a grim witness to the risks faced by thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean each year.