Greek authorities have rescued more than 500 migrants off the southern island of Crete in recent days, the coastguard said in a statement Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greece is one of the main gateways to Europe for people fleeing war and poverty, mainly from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent years, an increasing number of people have embarked on the migratory route south of the island of Crete, opposite Libya and Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Saturday alone, some 280 people were rescued from five separate shipwrecks, including 13 minors, said the coastguard statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most were men and many reported having set sail for Greece from Libya, paying “between 150,000 and 200,000 Egyptian pounds (3,000-4,000 dollars)”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among them, authorities arrested a 24-year-old Sudanese and suspected smuggler who was later prosecuted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The country\u2019s deadliest shipwreck occurred two years ago, when a rusty, overloaded trawler sank off the south-western Peloponnese peninsula, claiming more than 600 lives, according to the UN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Greek authorities have rescued more than 500 migrants off the southern island of Crete in recent days, the coastguard said in a statement Sunday. Greece is one of the main 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