Greek coast guard vessels and commercial ships have rescued 192 migrants from a distressed fishing boat south of Crete, authorities said, in the latest of a string of arrivals as maritime smuggling activity surges along Europe's southern border.
The search and rescue operation began after a Frontex surveillance aircraft spotted the overcrowded wooden vessel about 20 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Piraeus diverted three coast guard patrol boats and called on three nearby cargo ships to help secure the area.
All 192 people were safely removed from the unstable boat and taken to Kaloi Limenes port, where health screenings, biometric identification and temporary shelter procedures have started.
The rescue comes as fair late-spring weather is driving more crossing attempts along the dangerous route from eastern Libya to Greece.
The Hellenic Coast Guard remains on high alert, with specialized patrol units deployed throughout the Libyan Sea to intercept unseaworthy smuggling vessels before they founder.
Humanitarian groups say the number of multi-boat arrivals has increased sharply in recent weeks, underscoring the pressures on Europe's southern maritime border as the summer travel season begins.