Twenty-two migrants have died off the Greek coast after spending six days in a dinghy bound for Europe, the Greek coastguard has reported. The migrant boat had departed from Tobruk in eastern Libya on March 21 and encountered hazardous conditions during the journey.
On Friday, twenty-six survivors, including a woman and a child, were rescued by a vessel from a European border agency. Among them, two individuals were hospitalized in Heraklion on the island of Crete due to health concerns.
According to coastguard spokespersons, bad weather and a lack of food and water were significant factors leading to the migrants' deaths. The vessel was eventually located 53 nautical miles from Ierapetra, a city located on Crete's southern coast.
Greek authorities have since arrested two men from South Sudan, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of human trafficking. They are under investigation for charges including illegal entry into the country and negligent homicide. Out of the survivors, 21 were from Bangladesh, with a further four from South Sudan and one from Chad.
The perilous journey across the Mediterranean is often favored by undocumented migrants seeking better lives in Europe. However, the crossings can be exceptionally dangerous, particularly during adverse weather conditions. In 2025 alone, over 41,696 arrivals by sea were recorded in Greece, as per the UN's refugee agency.
The plight of those making such treacherous voyages remains dire, and the risks of loss of life continue to loom large.
