Egypt Reports 18 Citizens Still Missing After Migrant Boat Accident Near Greek Island of Crete

Egypt reported on Wednesday that 18 of its citizens remain missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Greek island of Crete last week.

The wooden boat was carrying 50 people, including four minors. Greek authorities directed a commercial vessel to the area for rescue operations.

According to Greece's public broadcaster ERT, an accident occurred as the migrant boat approached the rescue vessel. The boat suddenly overturned when passengers attempted to climb the ladder onto the rescue ship.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that 21 Egyptian nationals were on board; three have been found dead, while the others are still missing.

Greek authorities rescued twenty migrants by the commercial vessel, but many individuals are still unaccounted for. Local media outlet Creta 24 reported that Greek authorities have arrested two Sudanese men on suspicion of human trafficking.

It is estimated that the migrant boat departed from Libya. Migrants regularly attempt to cross the dangerous waves from Libya to Crete, a gateway to the European Union.

Last year, more than 17,000 Egyptian citizens reached Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, making them the top African group and the second-largest global group of irregular migrants in Europe.

Many migrants come from poor towns in Egypt's Nile Delta and travel via Libya, where they face arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, and forced labor.

They are often extorted and held hostage, and they are not allowed to proceed to their destination until their families send more money to the smugglers from home.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens to "exercise extreme caution to avoid being misled by illegal immigration gangs" and stated it is coordinating the repatriation of the deceased.