More than 430 migrants were spotted and rescued about 25 nautical miles off Gavdos, Greece's southernmost island, on Sunday, the coastguard said in a statement.

In a separate incident, also on Sunday, the European Union's Frontex border agency rescued 96 migrants on board two boats off Crete, the coastguard said. The migrants are now being taken to Crete, Greece's largest and most populous island.

Sea arrivals from northeastern Libya of migrants trying to cross to Europe in recent months. They mainly come from the Middle East and North Africa, including nationals from war-torn countries and citizens of Egypt and Bangladesh.

Last month, Athens said it would deploy two frigates near Libyan territorial waters to help stem the flow. It also urged Libya to cooperate more closely with Greece and the European Union to stop migrants sailing from there or turn them back before they exit Libyan territorial waters.

In another incident on Sunday, a Greek media outlet published footage showing dozens of migrants jumping off a speedboat into the water before reaching the shores of southern Crete.

--Reuters--