Twelve migrants have been found dead aboard a boat off the southern coast of Crete, where three separate search and rescue operations have been carried out overnight, with a total of 105 people rescued.

The tragedy unfolded approximately 15 nautical miles south-southwest of Kali Limenes, when a container ship sailing under the Moroccan flag spotted a boat carrying migrants.

According to initial reports, a rescue operation was launched under the coordination of Greece’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), resulting in the rescue of 18 migrants.

A Greek coastguard patrol vessel arrived at the scene and took the 18 survivors aboard. Rescuers also recovered 12 bodies from the migrant boat.

The coastguard vessel is heading towards the port of Agia Galini, while weather conditions in the area are reported to be favourable.

Two further operations involving around 87 migrants

Meanwhile, two additional search and rescue operations have been conducted in the waters south of Crete, also coordinated by the JRCC.

In the first incident, a Frontex aircraft spotted a boat carrying approximately 47 migrants, some 30 nautical miles south of Kali Limenes.

All those aboard were picked up by a Frontex vessel and are due to be transferred to the port of Kali Limenes.

In a separate incident, a Frontex unmanned aerial vehicle detected another boat carrying approximately 40 migrants, 31 nautical miles south-east of Kali Limenes.

A vessel operated by the European border agency subsequently rescued the passengers, who are also being transported to Kali Limenes.

117 migrants located across three operations

Across the three operations, approximately 117 migrants were located in the waters off southern Crete.

Of those, 105 were rescued, while 12 were found dead.