Greek authorities recovered 12 bodies from a boat carrying migrants south of Crete on Monday morning, while a passing cargo ship rescued 18 people from the same vessel, Greece’s coast guard said.

The boat was found about 15 nautical miles, or 28 kilometres, south of the Greek island, according to Associated Press reporting published by CBC. The cargo ship that rescued the survivors was flying the Moroccan flag.

The identities of those who died and the circumstances of their deaths were not immediately available. Authorities did not say where the boat had departed from.

The coast guard also reported finding two other boats south of Crete, one carrying about 47 people and the other about 40. A Frontex aircraft spotted the first, while a drone operated by the European Union’s border agency located the second. Those aboard both boats were rescued by Frontex and were being taken to a port on Crete’s southern coast, the coast guard said.

Greece is a major entry point into the EU for people fleeing conflict and poverty. The AP report said thousands of people in recent months have attempted the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from North Africa, usually from Libya to Crete.

Sources