Egypt Confirms 14 Nationals Killed in Migrant Shipwreck Near Crete

CAIRO, Xinhua: Fourteen Egyptian nationals died when a migration boat sank while traveling from a neighboring country to Greece, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The vessel, which carried 34 migrants of various nationalities, including the Egyptians who perished, capsized amid severe weather, the ministry said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Egyptian embassy in Athens released the names and home provinces of the 14 victims and confirmed that 13 other Egyptians remain missing. The incident occurred south of the Greek island of Crete.

On Dec. 6, Greek authorities reported that an overcrowded inflatable boat carrying 34 migrants capsized during storms in the southwest of Crete. At least 17 people were confirmed dead, 15 remain missing, and only two survived. Most passengers were young men from Egypt and Sudan.

The Greek authorities added that the ship departed from Tobruk in eastern Libya. It sank 26 nautical miles southwest of Crete amid two days of high waves and heavy storms. Engine failure and harsh weather forced the passengers into a cramped space, while the boat’s sides had partially deflated, further endangering those on board.

According to Greek media, the vessel was first spotted on the afternoon of Dec. 6 by a Turkish cargo ship, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged Egyptian citizens not to fall prey to illegal migration networks and stressed the importance of using official visas and legal channels to avoid such tragedies. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty instructed the Egyptian embassy to expedite the repatriation of recovered bodies.

Thousands of migrants depart from the North African coast toward Europe each year, with the route from eastern Libya to Greece becoming increasingly common.