One migrant has died and at least 20 others are believed missing after a boat traveling from Libya to the Greek island of Crete became stranded and took on water, authorities announced Monday.
The Greek coast guard reported that 51 people were rescued early Monday morning approximately 47 miles south of Crete. The rescue operation involved patrol boats, a helicopter, a drone, and commercial vessels, with assistance from the European Union's border protection agency, Frontex.
The route across the Mediterranean from eastern Libya to Crete has become a significant, though perilous, path for illegal migration into Europe, as numbers on other routes have generally decreased. Migration issues are being closely followed, with extensive coverage available on the topic.