22 dead as migrant boat rescued off Greek island after six days at sea

Twenty-two people were reported dead Saturday after a migrant boat was rescued off the Greek island of Crete, public broadcaster ERT reported. The vessel was spotted early Friday by Frontex, the European Union border agency, with 26 survivors transferred to the port of Kaloi Limenes.

Six-day ordeal claims 22 lives

Survivors told authorities that 48 people were on board when the boat departed from Libya six days earlier. The vessel drifted for days due to adverse weather conditions, during which 22 people perished. Survivors said the bodies of those who died were thrown into the sea during the journey. Two suspected boat operators, both South Sudanese nationals aged 19 and 21, were identified and arrested on suspicion of human trafficking during the preliminary investigation.

Mediterranean migration crisis continues

The tragedy underscores the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe. The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. Türkiye, which has long been a transit and destination country for migrants, has consistently called for a coordinated European approach to address the root causes of irregular migration and prevent such tragedies, while also hosting millions of refugees on its own soil.