Greek authorities have transported more than 500 migrants to a port on the mainland in an effort to relieve strain on the island of Crete after a surge in arrivals from Libya.

Greek lawmakers are set to vote on a temporary asylum application suspension for migrants from North Africa, a measure criticized as illegal by rights groups. This comes as Crete sees a rise in migrant arrivals,

Greece has rescued hundreds of migrants off its southern islands of Gavdos and Crete in five separate incidents since Friday, its coastguard said on Sunday. More than 430 migrants were spotted and rescued about 25 nautical miles off Gavdos,