Greece records 862 migrant arrivals in a single day

Greek authorities have raised the number of migrants who reached the country's shores on Monday to 862, making it one of the busiest days for arrivals so far this year.

Most of the migrants crossed the Mediterranean from North Africa, with the southern island of Crete emerging as the main destination amid increased departures from eastern Libya.

According to the updated Coast Guard figures, an additional five boats carrying 279 people reached the uninhabited islet of Chryssi, beaches in southern Crete or were intercepted at sea. These arrivals were recorded on top of 522 people reported earlier.

Another 61 migrants reached two small islands in the eastern Aegean after crossing from the nearby Turkish coast.

Crete faces growing pressure

The increased migration flows from eastern Libya have placed significant pressure on reception facilities in Crete.

The government is struggling to establish a second migrant reception centre outside the island's capital, Heraklion, as existing facilities face growing demands.

The latest arrivals bring the total number of people reaching Greek shores this year to more than 38,000.

Greece remains a major entry point into the European Union for migrants from the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent, many of whom rely on smuggling networks to cross into the country before seeking to continue their journey towards other European destinations.

Authorities expect arrivals to decline

The conservative government expects migrant arrivals to decrease in the coming weeks as deteriorating weather conditions make Mediterranean crossings more difficult.

Nearly 49,000 migrants reached Greece last year, while the European migration crisis of 2015 saw almost one million arrivals.

The latest figures underline the continuing pressure on Greece's southern maritime borders and the challenges facing authorities in managing reception facilities, particularly on Crete.

Source:Kathimerini