World News

Greek authorities recover 12 bodies from migrant boat off Crete

Eighteen people were rescued, but reports differ on the death toll and the cause remains unclear.

Published Nov 9, 2026 · 15:37 UTC3 reports

The short version

Greek authorities recovered 12 bodies from a migrant boat found sailing south of Crete early Monday.[ABC News]
The coastguard said 18 people were rescued, all Sudanese nationals, and four were hospitalized, including a toddler.[BBC News]
Death toll reports differ: one outlet cites at least 13 deaths, while authorities cited 12 bodies recovered.[ABC News · BBC News]
Authorities said the cause of the deaths was unclear and believe the boat struggled to reach shore amid strong winds after days at sea.[BBC News]

Greek authorities recovered 12 bodies from a migrant boat found sailing south of Crete early Monday.[ABC News]
A Moroccan-flagged cargo ship rescued 18 people from the vessel, the coast guard said.[ABC News]
The coastguard said the 18 people it rescued were all Sudanese nationals.[BBC News]
Four survivors, including a toddler, were taken to hospital.[BBC News]
BBC News reported that at least 13 people died after the boat sank off Crete.[BBC News]
Authorities said it was not immediately clear what caused the deaths.[BBC News]

The death toll is disputed, with one report citing 12 bodies recovered and another citing at least 13 deaths.[ABC News · BBC News]
Accounts differ on who rescued the 18 people, with one report crediting a Moroccan-flagged cargo ship and another the Greek coastguard.[ABC News · BBC News]
The cause of the deaths remains unclear, and authorities have only stated their belief about the boat's time at sea and the strong winds.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.