A new tragedy off the island of Crete with at least 22 migrants to have died due to hardship after six days at sea without food and water. the smugglers threw the dead into the survivors, survivors said.
26 people, among them one woman and one child, have been rescued by the Greek Coast Guard, FRONTEX vessel and a private boat in the on Friday, March 27, 2026.
Two young men from South Sudan arrested as smugglers.
At least 22 migrants lost their lives after days of suffering at sea, without water or food. According to statements by survivors, the bodies of the victims were thrown into the water on the orders of the smugglers.
The inflatable boat they were onboard left Tobruk in Libya on March 21 for Greece. Having lost its orientation, the boat sailed for six days until it was located by Greek authorities off Crete, south of Ierapetra.
Those rescued were initially transferred to the port of Kalos Limenas and then to the city of Heraklion, under the escort of port and police authorities.
Two of the rescued people had to be taken to hospitals in Heraklion by ambulances, due to their serious health conditions.
According to survivors testimonies, the boat had departed on the evening of March 21, 2026 from the Tobruk region of Libya, bound for Greece, carrying a total of 48 people. During the journey, the boat lost its orientation, resulting in the passengers remaining at sea for six days, without sufficient supplies.
The eyewitnesses stated that 22 people died from the hardships, while their bodies were dumped into the sea.
As part of the preliminary investigation, authorities proceeded to arrest two foreigners, aged 19 and 22, nationals of South Sudan, who are alleged to be the traffickers of the remaining passengers.
A case file was filed against them for a series of serious offenses, including illegal entry, facilitating transportation, complicity, as well as offenses related to exposure to danger and manslaughter by negligence.
According to an announcement by the Coast Guard, the inflatable boat was located 52 nautical miles south of Ierapetra.
For their transport to Greece, the migrants paid sums of money of 1,000,000 Bangladeshi lacs, 10,000 US dollars and 12,000 Libyan dinars respectively.
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