22 Migrants Die After Drifting Six Days Without Food or Water Off Greek Coast
Survivors tell of 22 bodies thrown overboard as Frontex vessel rescues 26 near Crete; two suspected smugglers arrested
ATHENS — March 28, 2026 — Twenty-two migrants have died after their boat drifted for six days without food or water in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Greece, authorities said on Saturday, March 28, in one of the deadliest incidents on the increasingly perilous Libya-to-Crete crossing route.
The Hellenic Coast Guard reported that 26 survivors—including a woman and a child—were rescued on Thursday, March 26, by a vessel operated by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, approximately 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra on the island of Crete .
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According to survivor accounts, the rubber boat had departed from the Libyan port city of Tobruk on the evening of March 21 with 48 people on board, each paying smugglers between 8,600 and 10,000 euros (approximately $9,000 to $10,000) for the journey . Their intended destination was Crete, some 325 kilometers (200 miles) across open sea.
Six Days of Horror
During the crossing, the boat lost its bearings and drifted for nearly a week after running out of fuel. Survivors told Greek authorities that food and water supplies were quickly exhausted, leading to deaths from exhaustion and dehydration over the six-day ordeal .
“During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water,” the coastguard said in a statement .
According to testimony collected from survivors, the 22 victims perished over the course of the days adrift, and their bodies were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea on the orders of one of the smugglers . Among the 26 rescued were 21 Bangladeshi nationals, four South Sudanese, and one Chadian citizen, according to the coastguard .
Two survivors were transported to a hospital in Heraklion, Crete, for treatment .
Smugglers Arrested
Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, suspected of trafficking the other passengers . They are being investigated by the Greek public prosecutor on charges of negligent homicide and aiding illegal entry into the country .
The Hellenic Coast Guard noted that the vessel endured “unfavorable meteorological conditions” during its odyssey, which compounded the shortage of food and water .
Rising Deaths on Mediterranean Routes
The tragedy highlights the growing dangers on the central Mediterranean route, particularly from Libya to Crete, which has seen a sharp increase in crossings. In 2025, approximately 20,000 migrants reached Crete—four times the number recorded in 2024 .
According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 559 people died in the Mediterranean during January and February 2026, more than double the 287 deaths recorded during the same period last year . Experts believe the true figure is significantly higher, as many shipwrecks go unnoticed .
In February 2026, a boat from Libya capsized off Crete, drowning 30 people . In December 2025, at least 18 migrants were found dead inside their partially deflated boat southwest of Crete, with 15 others presumed drowned and never recovered .
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EU Response
A European Commission spokesperson said in response to Saturday’s tragedy: “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” .
The European Parliament on Thursday endorsed a major tightening of EU migration policy, approving the concept of “return hubs” designed to send migrants to non-EU third countries—a proposal that rights groups have criticized as inhumane .
As of Saturday afternoon, Greek authorities continued their investigation into the incident, with the two suspected smugglers in custody awaiting formal charges.
SOURCES / INPUTS
France 24: 22 die off coast of Greece after six days at sea in migrant rubber boat
Agenzia Nova: Migrants: 22 dead in shipwreck off Greece
LaPresse: Migrants: boat adrift off the coast of Greece, 22 dead
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