Greek coastguard authorities have rescued 539 migrants from a fishing vessel in distress off the southern island of Gavdos, with Bangladeshi nationals comprising the overwhelming majority. Officials from the local coastguard (Limenarkio) confirmed that 437 of those rescued are from Bangladesh.
The vessel was discovered in the early hours of Friday, 19 December, in the waters south of Agia Galini. All passengers were safely evacuated and transported to the Kitrenosi facility in Rethymno, where the Hellenic Coastguard carried out registration and identity verification procedures.
According to authorities, the rescued migrants include four women and two children, with the remainder predominantly adult men. Rethymno Coastguard Chief Kyriakos Pattakos stressed that the immediate priority is to identify and dismantle the human trafficking networks responsible for organising the voyage, while ensuring the safe and orderly relocation of the migrants to appropriate accommodation.
Local authorities are facing logistical difficulties in managing such a large influx. Yorgos Skordilis, Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection of Rethymno, noted that the municipality lacks the infrastructure to host all 539 migrants simultaneously. “Without close coordination with the central government, the local administration is under significant strain,” he said. Officials have therefore decided that 300 migrants will be transferred to other facilities on Monday, with the remainder relocated in the following week.
The nationalities of those rescued are summarised below:
| Nationality | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 437 | Majority of the rescued group |
| Pakistan | 46 | Mostly adult men |
| Egypt | 34 | Includes women and children |
| Eritrea | 12 | Includes women and children |
| Somalia | 5 | Adult men |
| Sudan, Yemen, Palestine | N/A | Small numbers, adults |
It is believed that the migrants departed from eastern Libya, likely under the coordination of human traffickers, enduring a perilous 36-hour journey across the Mediterranean before reaching Greek waters.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Greece has yet to release an official statement regarding the rescue or the welfare of its nationals. Meanwhile, Greek authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that the migrants receive appropriate support while investigations into the trafficking network proceed.
This incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian and logistical challenges posed by migrant crossings in the Mediterranean, highlighting the vulnerability of those risking dangerous sea journeys in search of safety and opportunity.