Greek Coast Guard Rescues 361 Migrants South of Gavdos in Coordinated Operation

Greek authorities rescued approximately 361 migrants from a fishing boat in distress 35 nautical miles south of Gavdos, Europe's southernmost island, on Friday, December 26, 2025.

The operation involved a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel in the area, with a Danish-flagged freighter assisting in transporting the migrants to the port of Paleochora in western Crete. A Frontex aircraft, part of the European Union's border agency, also participated in locating and supporting the rescue.

In a separate but related incident shortly earlier, another group of about 30 migrants was spotted on a boat 25 nautical miles south of Gavdos by a Frontex vessel and similarly transferred to Paleochora for processing.

All rescued individuals were reported to be in good health upon arrival. The incidents highlight ongoing migration pressures in the central Mediterranean, with routes from North Africa increasingly targeting Greece's southern islands.