At least 22 migrants died off the coast of Crete after spending six days at sea without food or water, according to reports from survivors. The Greek coastguard stated that 26 others were rescued by a European border agency Frontex vessel near the island on Friday.
Survivors told authorities that the bodies of those who died were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea on the orders of one of the people smugglers aboard the ship. The boat had set sail from Tobruk, Libya on March 21 and was found 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, a town on southern Crete.
Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, who are suspected of being the smugglers. They are under investigation for "illegal entry into the country" and "negligent homicide." The survivors included a woman and a minor, with 21 being Bangladeshi citizens, four from South Sudan, and one from Chad.
According to the Greek coastguard, the vessel endured "unfavourable meteorological conditions" during its journey, which coupled with the shortage of food and water "led to the deaths through exhaustion of 22 people." This incident comes as Frontex reported earlier this month that migrant deaths trying to reach EU soil more than doubled in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period last year.