Crete: 30 people found at Alyki — separate from the rescue of 71
The latest Coast Guard bulletin concerns 26 men, three women and one minor on a beach near Maridaki. It does not revise the earlier rescue count.
Updated 20.10.2026 · 16:08, Athens time — What changed:
Thirty people — 26 men, three women and one minor — were found on the morning of 20 October 2026 at Alyki beach, southwest of Maridaki in Archanes–Asterousia municipality, according to a new Coast Guard announcement.
They were taken by bus to Heraklion port, escorted by officers from Asterousia Police Station. Heraklion’s Central Port Authority is conducting the preliminary investigation.
Separate from the rescue of 71
The latest record concerns people found on a beach, not a sea rescue of the same individuals. It does not revise the 71-person count from the separate operation reported in the earlier coverage below.
The same bulletin also updates investigations into older incidents, including those of 12 and 14 October. Those figures are not added as new arrivals today or conflated with the Alyki incident.
Earlier updates — history
Seventy-one people — 70 men and one woman — were rescued in the early hours of 20 October 2026, in waters 52 nautical miles south of Kaloi Limenes, Crete, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard's official announcement.
Transfer to Crete
The Kaloi Limenes port authority was notified of a boat in difficulty. A Frontex vessel picked up those on board. With assistance from a Coast Guard patrol vessel, the rescued people were brought to Kaloi Limenes harbour and subsequently to Heraklion harbour.
Coast Guard special-missions personnel and officers from the Faistos police station accompanied the transfer to Heraklion. The Heraklion Central Port Authority is conducting the preliminary investigation.
A distinct operation and a specific count
The figure of 71 concerns this particular rescue south of Kaloi Limenes. It is not a combined total from separate arrivals or operations mentioned in the same release. The relevant paragraph does not publish nationalities or detailed health information about those rescued.
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