21 Bangladeshis, 5 others rescued off Greek coast; 22 die at sea
However, the coast guard did not confirm how many of the dead were Bangladeshi
Greek authorities rescued 21 Bangladeshis, along with four South Sudanese nationals and one Chadian, on Friday after they spent six harrowing days at sea in a rubber boat attempting to reach Europe.
Survivors reported to the Greek Coast Guard that 22 people died during the voyage due to exhaustion, lack of food and water, and harsh weather conditions. The bodies of those who died were thrown into the Mediterranean on the orders of the traffickers.
However, the coast guard did not confirm how many of the dead were Bangladeshi.
The group had left Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on 21 March, bound for Greece, a gateway for migrants seeking asylum in the European Union.
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Two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, believed to be the traffickers, were arrested. They are under investigation for "illegal entry" and "negligent homicide".
The vessel was located 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, on southern Crete. Two survivors were hospitalised in Heraklion on Crete. The Greek coast guard said the rubber boat had endured unfavourable meteorological conditions, which, combined with food and water shortages, caused the deaths.
This incident reflects a broader surge in migrant deaths in the Mediterranean. According to the International Organization for Migration, 559 people died in January and February 2026, more than double the 287 deaths recorded in the same period last year.
In December 2025, at least 17 migrants drowned southwest of Crete; only two survived, and 15 bodies were never recovered.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the European Parliament recently endorsed a tightening of EU migration policy, including the creation of "return hubs" to send migrants to non-EU countries – a move that has drawn criticism from human rights groups for being inhumane.
An EU Commission spokesperson said, "These tragedies highlight the urgency to strengthen cooperation with countries along migratory routes and redouble efforts against migrant smugglers, who are responsible for such loss of life."
