12 dead in latest migrant boat tragedy off Crete; more vessels head towards Greece

Greek authorities recovered 12 bodies from a boat carrying migrants south of the island of Crete on Monday, while 18 others were rescued by a passing Moroccan-flagged cargo ship. The vessel was found about 15 nautical miles (28km) south of Crete as it sailed across the Mediterranean Sea, the Greek coast guard said.There was no immediate information about the identities of those who died or the circumstances of their deaths.The incident came amid a fresh surge in migrant arrivals off Crete.

On Monday morning, authorities detected three other boats carrying more than 180 people along the same route from North Africa.One of the boats, carrying around 47 people, was spotted by an aircraft operated by the European Union's border agency, Frontex. Another, with about 40 people on board, was detected by a Frontex drone.The drone later spotted a third boat carrying around 100 people, about 47 nautical miles (87km) south of Crete.