Twenty-two migrants have died off the Greek coast after spending six days in a dinghy bound for Europe, as confirmed by the Greek coastguard. On Friday, a European border agency vessel managed to rescue 26 survivors, including a woman and a child, two of whom were taken to hospital in Heraklion on the island of Crete.
The ill-fated boat departed from Tobruk in eastern Libya on March 21. According to a coastguard spokesperson, harsh weather conditions and a severe lack of food and water contributed to the deaths of the individuals on board.
Greece and Italy continue to be primary destinations for undocumented migrants crossing the Mediterranean, often coming from Turkey and Northern Africa. Typical crossings occur during summer months when weather conditions are generally more stable.
During their grueling journey, the passengers lost orientation and struggled at sea without access to food and water for six consecutive days, the coastguard reported. The boat was eventually intercepted 53 nautical miles from Ierapetra, a southern city on Crete.
Authorities in Greece have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of people trafficking. They are currently being investigated for illegal entry into the country and negligent homicide.
Of the 26 survivors, 21 are from Bangladesh, four from South Sudan, and one from Chad. According to UNHCR data, at least 41,696 individuals arrived in Greece by sea in 2025, with more than 4,000 reaching the shores this year. However, such perilous journeys remain fraught with risk, especially in adverse weather conditions, as human traffickers often overcrowd boats lacking adequate supplies and safety measures.
In 2025 alone, 103 individuals were reported dead or missing in the eastern Mediterranean, and just last December, 17 migrants tragically lost their lives inside a boat that was taking on water near the Cretan coast.
