Boats used by migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea are seen at Tripiti beach, on Gavdos, the southernmost point of Europe, in a file photo. [AP]
Last September, a grey wooden boat crammed with about a hundred migrants drifted toward Gavdos, a tiny island south of Crete. Before it was able to land on the beach, three men waded into the water and heaved the vessel back out to sea. Videos of this scene went viral, receiving tens of millions of views.
One YouTube video bore the caption “dramatic footage shows beachgoers physically pushing migrant boat back to prevent illegal entry,” fuelling the misperception that the island is overrun by migrants.
George Loudiakis, the owner of a beachfront tavern, who witnessed the event, tells a different story. No one was trying to chase anyone away; people were trying to help, he explains. “They pushed the boat from this beach here to help direct them to the port,” he said one recent afternoon at Four Brothers, his family restaurant. The viral video produced fake news, and that has a big impact on the island. He describes that he is still getting calls from alarmed travelers afraid to come to Gavdos. They fear that the island, known for its laid-back vibe, is overwhelmed with migrants.
