Twenty-two migrants die off Greek coast after six days at sea

Greece’s coastguard confirmed that 22 individuals lost their lives off the country’s coast following a six-day journey in a small boat aiming for Europe. Twenty-six survivors, including a woman and a child, were recovered by a European border agency vessel on Friday. Two of the rescued individuals were transported to Heraklion, Crete, for medical care.

The migrant boat departed from Tobruk’s port in eastern Libya on 21 March, as reported by AFP, which referenced a coastguard statement. Adverse weather and insufficient provisions were identified as contributing factors to the fatalities. The vessel was eventually located 53 nautical miles from Ierapetra, a coastal city on Crete’s southern shore.

“Throughout the trip, the passengers [of the boat] misplaced their direction and endured six days at sea without access to water or food,” the coastguard explained.

Greece and Italy serve as primary entry points for undocumented migrants traversing the Mediterranean, typically from Turkey and regions of northern Africa. The majority of these crossings occur during the summer, when weather conditions are generally more favorable.

Authorities arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of facilitating illegal migration. They face charges of “illegal entry” and “negligent homicide.” The survivors comprised 21 Bangladeshis, four South Sudanese, and one from Chad.

The UNHCR noted that at least 41,696 migrants reached Greece by sea in 2025, with over 4,000 arriving this year. Despite the high numbers, the journey remains dangerous, particularly in harsh weather, as smugglers often overload boats without sufficient supplies or safety gear. In 2025, a minimum of 103 people were reported dead or missing in the eastern Mediterranean. Earlier in December, 17 migrants were discovered deceased inside a boat that had partially submerged near the Cretan coast.