Kali Limni: 147 Migrants in Three Incidents

Three consecutive migrant detection incidents were recorded during the night and early morning hours of Wednesday, August 12 in the maritime area southeast of Kali Limni, in southern Heraklion. According to the data provided, the first incident identified approximately 46 people, the second, in the early morning, 32 people and the third 69 people.

The total number exceeds 147, with the exact number confirmed after official counting during disembarkation. Differences in initial numbers announced are common in such operations, as the initial estimate is made at sea under difficult visibility conditions, often at night and in open waters. Final recording is done after disembarkation, with the assistance of interpreters and competent services.

The disembarkation of the groups of 32 and 69 people was scheduled for around noon at Kali Limni, with transfer to Heraklion expected around 2:00 PM. The Coast Guard participated in the operations with other involved services, followed by the recording and management process. Services like EKAB for initial medical assessment and the Red Cross for distribution of water and essential items also participated.

On the same day, a separate incident was recorded, with 49 people detected on a vessel south of Heraklion. In total, according to local media, arrivals at the southern coast of Crete exceeded 150 people within a few hours, an image that repeats with increased frequency since early summer.

Kali Limni has evolved in recent years into a major arrival point for the route from North Africa to Crete, together with the coasts of Ierapetra, Gavdos and Tsoutsouros. The geographic location of the island places it on one of the most active maritime routes in the central Mediterranean. This route is longer and more dangerous than that of the eastern Aegean, making journeys particularly risky.

The repetition of such incidents in dense time intervals and involving large numbers, exerts pressure on both operational forces and the reception infrastructure of Heraklion, where initial recording takes place. The issue of capacity and adequacy of facilities reappears with each wave of arrivals, especially when transfers occur within hours and involve hundreds of people simultaneously.

In the district, the issue of reception facilities remains open, with residents of Athanates having repeatedly blocked roads following the provision of warehouses for accommodation structures. Arrivals continue, as shown by 268 people in six incidents in Ierapetra. More about Heraklion on the page Heraklion.