Kaloi Limenes: rescue of a boat carrying 33 migrants

A boat carrying 33 migrants was spotted and those on board were rescued on Monday 7 September 2026, approximately 35 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes, in the Heraklion region, according to reports by CretaOne and Nea Krete. The spotting of the boat was carried out by an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) of Frontex, while the rescue of those on board was carried out by a vessel of the same organization. The coordination of the operation was carried out by the National Search and Rescue Coordination Centre. All those rescued were men, among them two minors, with no further details about their identity being given to the public.

The weather conditions in the maritime area are described as northerly winds of 4 to 5 Beaufort. Those rescued were initially transferred to the port of Agia Galini and then to the old port authority building in Rethymno, where they are temporarily accommodated. The incident is separate and should not be confused with another rescue operation that took place on Sunday 6 September 2026, also in the area of Kaloi Limenes, where 44 migrants had been spotted and rescued. These are two different incidents, on successive days, in the same general maritime area south of Crete. In both cases, Sunday and Monday, the spotting and rescue operation followed a corresponding pattern of cooperation between Greek authorities and Frontex, without the two operations being linked to each other.

The maritime area south of Crete, from Kaloi Limenes to Agia Galini, repeatedly receives such operations in recent months, mobilizing the local port authorities in cooperation with Frontex vessels. The repetition of incidents in a short space of time, such as Sunday and Monday, strains the temporary accommodation infrastructure in Rethymno, where those rescued are frequently taken until decisions are made on their further management. The location where the boat was spotted falls within the Heraklion region, a fact that also involves the local maritime authorities of the area.

The nationality of those rescued has not been announced, nor are there further details beyond the number of two minors, as the authorities have not given the public details that could lead to the identification of anyone on board. The case is expected to proceed to the registration and management procedure that is followed in such cases, with the competent services deciding the next steps for those rescued. The frequency of such operations on the maritime front south of Crete in recent days, with two separate incidents in two days, shows that the area remains a point of increased activity, something that local authorities are monitoring closely. The duration of those rescued’ stay at the former Rethymno port authority building, as well as the next administrative steps, have not been publicly clarified by the competent services.