Greek authorities have rescued nearly 540 asylum seekers from a fishing boat south of the island of Crete, the Greek coastguard reported on Friday. The migrants will have their asylum claims processed after undergoing health checks.

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Rescue Operation Details

The boat was located approximately 16 nautical miles (29.6 km) off Gavdos during a search and rescue operation. The coastguard did not provide details on the boat’s origin.

A spokesperson told AFP that the rescued individuals came from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, and the occupied Palestinian territory. They were transported to the Cretan city of Rethymno.

In a separate incident on Thursday, Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, rescued 65 men and five women from two boats in distress near Gavdos.

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Migration Context in Crete

Greece has historically been a key entry point for migrants trying to reach Europe. During 2015–2016, over one million people from the Middle East and Africa arrived in Greece, before traveling to other European nations such as Germany.

While migration by boat has decreased overall since that period, Crete and Gavdos—closest to the African coast—have recently seen a resurgence of asylum boats, often departing from countries such as Libya.

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EU Migration Pact and Greek Policy

Next June, a new EU migration and asylum pact will take effect. Under the pact, countries including Greece, Cyprus, Spain, and Italy will receive support from other EU nations, including EU agencies and funding, to manage increased migration pressures.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that deporting asylum seekers whose claims are rejected will remain a priority for his centre-right government.

However, human rights organizations have criticized the pact, warning it could endanger asylum seekers and violate their rights.