Twenty-two migrants died off the Greek coast after spending six days adrift in a rubber boat bound for Europe, Greek authorities confirmed Friday. The tragedy unfolded when the vessel carrying asylum seekers from Libya lost its bearings in the Mediterranean Sea, leaving passengers without food or water for nearly a week.
Twenty-six survivors were rescued by a European Union border agency vessel near the island of Crete, including a woman and a minor. Two survivors required hospitalization in Heraklion, while Greek authorities arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of people trafficking and negligent homicide.
The boat had departed from Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on March 21 with hopes of reaching Greece. According to survivor testimonies, the passengers became disoriented during their journey across the treacherous waters of the eastern Mediterranean.
During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water
Greek coastguard โ France 24
In a disturbing detail that highlights the desperation aboard the vessel, survivors told authorities that the bodies of those who died were thrown into the sea on orders from one of the smugglers. The rescued passengers included 21 people from Bangladesh, four from South Sudan, and one from Chad.
France 24 provides factual reporting on the tragedy, focusing on coastguard statements and survivor accounts. The outlet emphasizes the humanitarian crisis while noting the risks migrants face despite tighter European restrictions.