AT LEAST five people have died and an unknown number are missing, after multiple incidents off the coast of Crete, coastguard reports said on Saturday.

Four rescue operations have been taking place since late on Friday, with at least 200 refugees rescued. 

Three operations involved separate incidents off the island of Gavdos, south of Crete, and the fourth took place off the southern Peloponnese region on the mainland.

During one operation, five bodies were retrieved from the water, and 39 people were rescued and taken to Crete, a coast guard said. 

Survivors have said that dozens of others were in the same boat.

A total of nine vessels, including coast guard ships, an Italian navy frigate and four merchant ships, as well as two helicopters, were still involved in the rescue on Saturday.

In the other two operations off Gavdos, a total of 136 were rescued. 

Another 28 migrants were rescued off the Peloponnese, with no one reported missing.

Greek officials say the spike in refugee arrivals is being driven by conflicts in the Middle East.