At least 22 migrants have perished off the Greek coast after their vessel spent six days adrift in the Mediterranean, the Greek coastguard confirmed on Friday. Among the 26 survivors rescued by a European border agency vessel, 21 have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals.
The ill-fated dinghy, which was bound for Europe, reportedly departed from the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya on 21 March, reports AFP.
According to a spokesperson for the Greek coastguard, the passengers lost their orientation during the journey and remained at sea for six days without access to food or water. The tragedy was further compounded by adverse weather conditions.
The vessel was eventually intercepted 53 nautical miles from Ierapetra, a city situated on the southern coastline of Crete. The survivors, who include one woman and a child, were rescued on Friday.
Two of the rescued individuals were subsequently transported to a hospital in Heraklion for medical treatment.
Greek authorities have arrested two men from South Sudan, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of human trafficking.
The suspects are currently under investigation for negligent homicide and illegal entry into the country. Aside from the 21 Bangladeshis, the survivors include four individuals from South Sudan and one from Chad.
Greece and Italy continue to serve as major entry points for undocumented migrants arriving from North Africa and Turkey. While such crossings are more frequent during the summer months due to calmer seas, the journeys remain highly perilous.
People smugglers frequently overcrowd vessels and fail to provide adequate supplies or essential safety equipment, such as lifejackets.
The scale of the migration crisis is reflected in figures from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which recorded 41,696 sea arrivals in Greece during 2025. So far this year, more than 4,000 people have arrived.
The crossing remains deadly; in 2025, at least 103 individuals were reported dead or missing in the eastern Mediterranean. This latest incident follows a tragedy in December, where 17 migrants were found dead near the Cretan coast on a partially submerged boat.
