22 migrants die off Greek coast after six days at sea | EUROtoday

Twenty-two migrants hoping to succeed in Europe from North Africa have died off the coast of Greece after six days at sea in a rubber boat, survivors advised the Greek coast guard on Saturday.

The coast guard late Friday mentioned 26 folks, together with a lady and a minor, have been rescued by a European border company vessel off the island of Crete.

The coastguard later mentioned that 21 Bangladeshis, 4 South Sudanese and a Chadian citizen had emerged from the ordeal alive.

Survivors mentioned the our bodies of those that had died have been thrown into the Mediterranean sea on the orders of one of many folks smugglers aboard the ship.

Two survivors have been taken to hospital in Heraklion on Crete, the coastguard mentioned.

Based on survivor statements, the coastguard mentioned the boat had left Tobruk, a port metropolis in japanese Libya, on March 21, sure for Greece, the gateway for a lot of migrants hoping for asylum within the European Union.

“During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water,” the coastguard acknowledged.

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The our bodies of those that died “were thrown into the sea on the orders of one of the smugglers”, it added.

The Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese males, aged 19 and 22, believed to be the smugglers.

They at the moment are beneath investigation for “illegal entry into the country” and “negligent homicide”.

The vessel carrying the group was 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, a city on southern Crete.

‘Intensify the work with accomplice nations’

A coastguard spokesman mentioned that the craft had endured “unfavourable meteorological conditions” throughout their odyssey.

That, coupled with a scarcity of meals and water, had “led to the deaths through exhaustion of 22 people”, the spokesman mentioned.

“The bodies of these dead people were thrown into the sea on the orders of the two traffickers, who have been arrested, according to testimony by survivors,” he added.

The variety of migrants who’ve died attempting to succeed in EU soil greater than doubled within the first two months of 2026, in contrast with final 12 months, the EU border company Frontex mentioned earlier this month.

“These tragedies highlight once more the urgency to intensify the work with partner countries along the migratory routes and redouble efforts in the fight against migrant smugglers, who are the ones responsible for these tragedies,” an EU fee spokesperson mentioned on Saturday.

According to knowledge from the International Organization for Migration, 559 folks died within the Mediterranean throughout January and February, in contrast with 287 for a similar interval final 12 months.

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In December, at the least 18 migrants have been discovered lifeless inside their boat, which was taking up water and had partially deflated, to the southwest of Crete.

Greek authorities discovered solely two survivors, stating {that a} additional 15 folks had drowned.

Their our bodies have been by no means recovered.

In a bid to stem the crossings, the European Parliament on Thursday endorsed a serious tightening of EU migration coverage and authorized the idea of “return hubs”, designed to ship migrants to non-EU third nations.

Those proposals have been criticised by rights teams as inhumane.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)