In brief
The Greek coastguard reported that 22 migrants died after being adrift for six days en route to Europe. Their journey began in Libya and ended tragically in a dinghy that lacked food and water. Authorities have since rescued 26 survivors and detained two suspected traffickers.
Twenty-two migrants have died off the Greek coast after spending six days in a dinghy bound for Europe, the Greek coastguard has said. Twenty-six survivors, including a woman and a child, were rescued by a European border agency vessel on Friday. Two of the survivors were taken to a hospital in Heraklion, located on the island of Crete.The ill-fated boat departed from the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya on March 21, as reported by news agency AFP. The Greek coastguard indicated that adverse weather conditions, combined with a lack of food and water, contributed to the tragic deaths. The boat was eventually located 53 nautical miles from Ierapetra, a town along Crete's southern coast.In a concerning development, Greek authorities arrested two men from South Sudan, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of human trafficking. They now face an investigation for illegal entry into the country and negligent homicide.Among the survivors, 21 individuals were identified as being from Bangladesh, four from South Sudan, and one from Chad, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of those attempting to reach Europe.Greece, alongside Italy, is a significant entry point for undocumented migrants crossing the Mediterranean, often facing perilous journeys organized by smugglers who overcrowd vessels without necessary supplies or lifejackets. According to the UN's refugee agency UNHCR, at least 41,696 individuals arrived in Greece by sea in 2025, with over 4,000 already recorded this year alone. Tragically, the Mediterranean is fraught with danger, particularly during harsh weather, leading to numerous fatalities. In 2025, the UNHCR reported that at least 103 individuals were either dead or missing in the Eastern Mediterranean.
