Bangladeshi nationals were among 79 migrants rescued from two boats off the southern Greek island of Crete on Tuesday.
They were the latest group among several hundred migrants rescued from the sea near the island in recent days, reports AFP.
A Greek coastguard press officer said an EU drone detected the two migrant boats near the port of Kali Limenes in southern Crete.
At least two women and two minors were among those rescued. The official confirmed that the group included Bangladeshi nationals as well as migrants from war-torn Sudan.
Greek news agency ANA initially reported that 85 migrants had been rescued, but the coastguard later revised the number to 79.
ANA also reported that the number of migrants arriving in Greece has declined in recent months.
Citing figures from Greece’s Ministry of Migration, ANA reported on Tuesday that around 61,000 migrants arrived in Greece in the 12 months to August 2025. The figure fell to around 42,000 in the following 12 months, representing an approximately 31% decline.
Meanwhile, Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris has been pursuing a tougher policy on migrant arrivals.
Greece is also in talks with Germany and several other EU countries about establishing “return hubs” outside the bloc to facilitate the processing of migrants’ cases.
