At least 18 migrants die as inflatable boat sinks off Greek island of Crete

Greek Authorities Confirm Devastating Loss of Life as Inflatable Boat Capsizes Off Crete. At least 18 people lost their lives when an inflatable boat sank off the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea, according to authorities who reported finding the half-sunken vessel on Saturday.

The tragedy occurred in the face of mounting concerns over migrant crossings, with many questioning whether Greece's response is adequate to deal with the influx. In recent months, the number of arrivals from Libya has surged, sparking fears for the safety of those attempting to cross the sea.

Rescue efforts were underway, with two survivors rescued and a search operation still ongoing. The Greek Coast Guard helicopter was joined by a ship, plane, and three merchant vessels in the rescue mission, underscoring the scale of the response required.

The incident is a grim reminder of the risks faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via Greece, a major entry point for those fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. As in previous crises, fatal accidents are all too common, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing these issues.

With many lives lost, the Greek authorities face mounting pressure to improve their response to migrant crossings, while also grappling with concerns over human trafficking and pushbacks at sea. The search operation continues as officials seek answers on the origin of the boat and those who perished in the tragic accident.

this is just devastating... 18 lives lost is a huge number and it's just not right that people have to go through such horrors to reach their destination, especially when they're fleeing war or poverty . I'm all for Greece doing more to help migrants but it's also super important for other EU countries to step up too - we can't just dump all the refugees on one country . We need a global solution here

this is just so devastating... how can we even begin to wrap our heads around another tragedy like this? the stats are crazy, 18 lives lost, that's not just numbers, it's families, friends, loved ones... what's going on with the rescue efforts? I mean, two survivors rescued is better than nothing, but it's still a tiny fraction of those who were there. and what about the search operation? how long are they gonna take to find out where that boat came from? this is just so heartbreaking...

this is just getting out of hand... like 18 people are gone and it's still all about the numbers, not about the families, friends, and lives lost . can't we just have a decent conversation about how to help these ppl instead of blaming everyone and everything? I mean, i get it, greece is struggling with migrant crossings, but does that justify sacrificing human lives on the altar of politics? . I'm all for a more comprehensive approach, but not at the expense of our humanity

omg this is just devastating 18 lives lost it's like they're playing with people's fate out there and it's not just about Greece, it's a global problem we need to step up our response and support those fleeing conflict and poverty the inflatable boat was literally their lifeline and now it's just a sinking feeling my heart goes out to the families of the victims

18 lives lost is just heartbreaking, can't imagine how scared & desperate those ppl must be to take such a risk...

idk how many ppl think greece is just sitting back & doing nothing... it's like they're waiting 4 these things 2 happen anyway, 18 lives lost 4 a reason that's hard 2 explain... seems like europe needs 2 step up its game & provide more support 2 these ppl fleeing war & poverty

This is getting so out of hand... 18 lives lost, that's just heartbreaking. I don't know how many times we need to see this happen before we take action? The number of migrants trying to cross the sea is crazy, but can't Greece do more to help them safely? It feels like they're doing everything they can on their own and still it keeps happening.

I mean, two survivors rescued is a good start, but 18 people lost their lives? That's just devastating. The Greek Coast Guard helicopter and ship and plane and all those merchant vessels are great, but it's not like this isn't been happening before... we need to do more to prevent these accidents in the first place.

I'm so tired of hearing about migrants trying to reach Europe because they have no other options. Can't we just help them instead? We're talking about human lives here, for crying out loud! The search operation is ongoing, but it's not like the answers are gonna magically appear...

this is just so sad... 18 people lost their lives in that boat ... it's like, what can we do to prevent these accidents? Greece needs to do better with all these migrant crossings ... and the way they deal with human trafficking is all wrong ... we need more help not just from other countries but also from within

18 innocent lives lost at sea, it's just devastating My heart goes out to the families of those who passed away. Greece is already dealing with a huge migrant crisis and this tragedy just highlights how inadequate their response might be . I mean, we've seen this play out in movies like 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' where the Greeks are struggling to cope with refugees pouring in from the war-torn areas of Europe... it's just not a new story . The Greek authorities need to step up their game and provide better support for those crossing the sea , before more lives get lost . And let's be real, this is also a reminder that human trafficking is still a huge issue ... we need to keep pushing for change .

man this is so sad another tragedy unfolding off our coast... i feel for the families of the victims, 18 lives lost is just devastating it's like we're not learning from these incidents, people keep risking their lives to come here and no one's doing enough to prevent it i mean we know the numbers are high but still, more needs to be done to help those in need... not just a token response but real change let's hope the authorities can get it together and make some serious adjustments

ugh this is just so heartbreaking ... 18 lives lost is already too many, can't we do better to prevent such tragedies? i know it's a complex issue, but as someone who cares about people's lives, it makes me wanna scream why can't we find a way to make the journey safer for these migrants? they're just trying to escape poverty and war... it's like, we need to be the ones giving them hope, not taking their lives away what's the solution? more resources? better coordination? i don't know, but we gotta keep pushing for change

this is just heartbreaking... 18 lives lost already this year and it's only march how can we keep turning a blind eye to these incidents? it's not just about numbers, it's about human beings struggling to survive and seeking a better life... and what are we doing to help them? the scale of the response is huge, but is it enough? should we be expecting more from our governments and international organizations to provide safe passage and support for these vulnerable people? the fact that many lives are lost in the process is a grim reminder of the risks they're taking... we need to do better

18 people can't be just 18 , they gotta be 20 or more I'm telling you, it's like a never-ending nightmare . These inflatable boats are so sketchy, anyone thinkin' of gettin' on one is already playin' with fire . Greece needs to step up their game, like, yesterday . They gotta have more resources, better equipment, and trained personnel . This can't be solved just by throwing some money at it . We need a real plan of action, not just a bunch of empty promises . The migrants are the ones who suffer the most in these situations . I'm gettin' anxious just thinkin' about it .

omg whats goin on w/ all these migrant crises?? i mean i get it ppl need 2 escape their homelands but isnt there a way 2 do it safely? this inflatable boat incident is just sad, especially wen u think bout the fams who lost loved ones. at least 18 ppl lost their lives & its like whats bein done 2 prevent such tragedies in the future? i think greece needs 2 step up its game & work w/ other european countries 2 find a solution 4 these issues, not just 4 the sake of politics but cuz people's lives r at stake

another devastating incident like this is just heartbreaking... 18 lives lost is way too many... it's hard to believe how some people would risk everything trying to escape their homes, only to lose their lives in the sea. I feel so bad for the survivors and the families of those who didn't make it... Greece is already dealing with a lot on its hands, and this just adds to the pressure... more lives lost at sea is just a wake-up call that we need to do better...