Serious concern is being expressed from Crete regarding the continuous increase in migration flows. Despite intensive patrols by the Coast Guard and Navy, over 2,000 migrants, mainly from Sudan, Egypt and Middle Eastern countries, arrived in the past two days at the island’s southern shores, putting existing accommodation facilities under extreme pressure.
Read: Heraklion: Two traffickers of 68 migrants from Libya arrested – Charged 2,000 euros per person
Daily migrant arrivals in Crete
Daily migrant arrivals in Crete’s southern regions are causing intense pressure on available infrastructure, as migration flows show dramatic increases in recent times. Specifically, in Heraklion, on Tuesday morning (08.07.2025), 116 refugees were rescued in three separate incidents:
- 48 disembarked at Kaloi Limenes
- 38 approached the shore at Lentas
- 30 landed at Tsoutsouras beach
As reported by neakriti.gr, shortly after 13:30, some of these migrants were transferred to Heraklion port, where they are temporarily housed in specially arranged areas before traveling to Athens. Meanwhile, in Chania, at the Agia exhibition center, 850 migrants spent the night, while another 600 are at Rethymno port, where authorities are searching for suitable accommodation space.
Rethymno mayor Giorgos Marinakis criticized the central government, speaking of institutional hypocrisy. Meanwhile, Chania’s deputy mayor for Social Policy, Eleni Zervoudaki, described the situation as particularly difficult, highlighting the danger from potential concentration of large numbers of migrants in inadequate space, which could even cause unrest.
At the same time, two foreign traffickers were arrested – Sudanese nationals aged 18 and 19 – by Heraklion Port Authority, following an operation to locate 68 foreigners (67 men and 1 minor) who disembarked yesterday afternoon at “Karavovrisi” beach in Kaloi Limenes, Phaistos Municipality. The two arrested individuals were identified as traffickers and are charged with violations related to illegal entry, facilitating migrant transport, endangering lives and complicity, according to laws N. 3386/05, N. 5038/2023 and the Penal Code. The inflatable boat’s engine was confiscated while the vessel was destroyed.
The 68 foreigners, who departed from Libya’s Tobruk area on July 6, had each paid 13,000 Libyan dinars or 5 billion Sudanese dinars for their transport. They were initially transferred to Heraklion port and will be forwarded to the Malakasa reception center.
“It’s an invasion” shouted residents and business owners
It should be noted that at midnight Monday, tensions erupted at Agia Galini port when 115 migrants arrived escorted by a Frontex vessel, destined to be transported by three buses to accommodation facilities. Local residents, already informed of the imminent arrival, gathered at the scene to prevent their disembarkation, expressing strong opposition to continuous migration flows. “It’s an invasion,” shouted residents and business owners regarding the migrants’ impending arrival.
Despite the tension, intervention by mayor Giannis Tatarakis and the port captain helped de-escalate the situation. The mayor held a meeting with citizens on Tuesday afternoon to discuss developments and impacts on the area.
Coast Guard personnel at breaking point due to increased migration flows in Crete
Meanwhile, increased migration pressure in Crete has exhausted Coast Guard personnel’s endurance limits, according to statements from eastern and western Crete union presidents. Vasilis Katsikandarakis, president of the Western Crete Coast Guard Personnel Union, noted that the situation at ports like Agia, Rethymno and the “Psygeio” in Heraklion reflects reality: “All personnel, eastern and western Crete, face difficult conditions. They work continuously, without schedules or family planning, while arrivals don’t stop. Although unions have sounded alarm bells early, today everyone appears surprised when the phenomenon is predictable.”
Giorgos Sfakianakis, president of the Heraklion Coast Guard Employees Union, emphasized that migration is no longer an emergency but daily reality: “In 2015-2017, during the eastern Aegean crisis, we managed much larger loads and gained expertise. Today, however, conditions are left to chance, despite the Migration Ministry and Coast Guard having experience. Crews operate continuously for up to 40 hours when conditions are favorable.” Both emphasize the need for coordinated planning and state intervention to address flows safely while ensuring the welfare of frontline personnel.
“15,000 coming by end of July”
Finally, serious concern and intense anxiety are expressed by mayors of Anogeia, Viannos, Archanes-Asterousia and Gortyna regarding increasing migration flows observed in recent weeks in southern Crete. As they mentioned on Kriti TV’s “Hora Aichmi” program, the situation is beginning to spiral out of control, with local communities facing an unprecedented crisis. The mayors emphasized that just recently hundreds of people have arrived, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, through organized trafficking networks. The situation is expected to worsen, as estimates suggest migrant numbers will reach 15,000 by the end of July.
