Greek authorities confirmed that 22 migrants lost their lives after being stranded in a rubber boat for six days in the Mediterranean Sea. The survivors reported that the bodies of the deceased were thrown overboard by people smugglers, according to a statement from the coastguard. This tragic event has brought renewed attention to the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe despite increasingly strict border controls.

Survivors Describe Perilous Journey

Two survivors of the incident were taken to a hospital in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete, the coastguard said. Based on their accounts. The boat departed from Tobruk. A port city in eastern Libya. On March 21. Heading for Greece, a major entry point for migrants seeking asylum in the European Union; During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water.

The coastguard stated that the bodies of those who died were “thrown into the sea on the orders of one of the smugglers.” Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, who are believed to be the people smugglers involved in the incident. The coastguard also reported that 26 people, including a woman and a minor, were rescued by a Frontex European Union Agency vessel off the island of Crete.

Risks of the Mediterranean Crossing

Thousands of people attempt the perilous crossing from Libya to Europe each year, often in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. Libya has become a key transit route for people fleeing conflict and poverty to Europe since the fall of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that more than 16,770 people seeking asylum in Europe arrived in Crete in 2025, with at least 107 people having died or gone missing in Greek waters during the same period.

Faced with a surge in arrivals, the Greek government suspended the processing of asylum applications for three months in mid-2025, particularly for those arriving from Libya. Despite these restrictions, many continue to take the dangerous journey to Europe, often with little regard for the risks involved.

Previous Tragedies Highlight Ongoing Crisis

The latest incident is part of a broader pattern of maritime tragedies involving migrants attempting to reach Europe. On February 9, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that some 53 migrants, including two babies, were dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Zuwara city in Libya. In January, the IOM said at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing because of extreme weather, with hundreds more deaths believed to be unrecorded.

These events expose the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. Survivors of the recent incident in Greek waters described the harrowing conditions they endured, including a lack of food and water, as well as the fear and desperation that gripped the passengers. The coastguard emphasized that the people smugglers were responsible for the deaths, having thrown the bodies overboard to avoid detection.

Greek authorities have been working to strengthen border security and increase efforts to intercept migrant boats, but the scale of the crisis continues to outpace these measures. The European Union has also taken steps to address the issue, including a recent decision to allow the deportation of migrants to ‘safe’ third countries. However, these policies have faced criticism for failing to address the root causes of migration, such as conflict, poverty, and political instability in regions like Libya.

The incident off the coast of Greece has once again highlighted the risks faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe, as well as the need for a more thorough approach to managing migration flows. With no end in sight to the crisis, the focus remains on finding solutions that balance border security with humanitarian concerns.