Greece Declares National Emergency Amid Migrant Surge on Crete
Greece has slammed the alarm, declaring a national emergency and launching mass deportations after a dramatic spike in migrant arrivals on Crete.
Over 7,000 Migrants Detained This Week
Government figures reveal more than 7,000 people were detained in just one week. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended the crackdown, stressing it was vital to defend Greece’s borders. “Greece’s safety and sovereignty are non-negotiable,” he declared.
Emergency Response: More Patrols and Fast-Track Deportations
The government’s new measures include ramped-up coastal patrols, deployment of extra security forces, and swift transfer of detainees to holding centres for speedy processing and deportation.
Calls for EU Action as Borders Face Intense Pressure
Officials blame unrest in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean for the influx, with smugglers exploiting calmer summer seas to funnel migrants. Greece is urging other European countries to adopt “stronger border protection and coordinated deportation policies.” They warn the current system pushes desperate people into dangerous crossings and overwhelms frontline states.
EU leaders are set to tackle the mounting crisis at an emergency summit in Brussels later this month.
