At least 18 migrants have died after an inflatable boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea south of the Greek island of Crete, according to Greek authorities, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the area in recent months.

The partially sunken vessel was spotted on Saturday by a passing Turkish merchant ship, which alerted rescue services. Two people were found alive and pulled from the water, while an extensive search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched to locate any additional survivors or victims.

Greek authorities confirmed that the boat overturned in international waters under unclear circumstances. The exact departure point of the vessel has not yet been officially established, though early assessments suggest it may have departed from North African shores amid a recent surge in sea crossings toward southern Greece.

Rescue teams have faced difficult conditions, with strong winds and rough waves hampering efforts to locate additional survivors or victims. A Hellenic Coast Guard helicopter, Frontex aircraft and patrol ships, and three nearby cargo vessels have been combing a wide area of international waters where the boat overturned.

"Operations are ongoing under challenging conditions," a coast guard official stated. "We have not ruled out the possibility of finding more survivors."

Local officials have warned the death toll may rise as the search continues.

The capsizing occurred under circumstances that remain unclear. While the boat's exact departure point is still under investigation, early assessments suggest it likely originated from North Africa. The tragedy highlights a significant and dangerous shift in migration patterns toward the European Union.

With intensified patrols and reported pushbacks reducing crossings from Turkey to the eastern Greek islands, a longer and more hazardous route from Libya to Crete and southern Greece has seen a sharp increase in activity in recent months.

Greece remains a primary entry point to the EU for those fleeing conflict, persecution, and poverty across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This incident has again cast a spotlight on the enduring humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, which continues to claim thousands of lives annually.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the capsizing, focusing on the human smuggling networks believed to be behind such perilous journeys. On Crete, medical and psychological support teams are on standby to assist any further survivors.

The search operation remains active as the international community confronts yet another grim chapter in the ongoing Mediterranean migration story. (ILKHA)