Over 1,000 migrants have arrivied in Crete in December
Crete continues to experience strong migratory pressure, with hundreds of migrants arriving on the Greek island in the last 24 hours.
On Friday, 545 migrants were spotted off the coast of the neighbouring island of Gavdos and rescued by the Greek port authorities, with the assistance from Frontex. The migrants were then transported to Crete.
A few hours later, two different migrant rescue operations took place overnight.
One took place 45 nautical miles southeast of Kales Limeni, where 27 people in a dinghy were spotted by a Coast Guard patrol boat.
The second boat, in which 35 people were on board, was located 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Psari Forada in the municipality of Viannos.
It is estimated that in December alone, more than 1,000 migrants arrived on the coast of Crete.
What is happening in Mediterranean countries
In Greece, since the beginning of the year, 39,495 people had entered illegally by the end of October, a decrease of 18% compared to 2024, when in the same period of the first ten months illegal arrivals amounted to 48,415.
However, for smugglers, especially from Libya, Crete and Gavdos seem to be the new preferred destinations, as this is where most illegal migrants arrive. This is partly due to improved weather conditions and proximity.
In Italy there has been a stabilisation of illegal immigration in 2025, with 65,642 arrivals to date compared to 65,471 in 2024. According to official figures in December, there is a decrease from 3,080 in 2024 to 2,336 in the same month in 2025.
In Spain, the overall figures show a large deceleration, reaching 44.3%. Official figures report 32,212 illegal arrivals from 1 January to 15 December, compared to 57,833 in the same period in 2024.
The decrease in these numbers is thought to be in part because of increased surveillance and a tightening on migration policies.
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