22 Migrants Die Off Crete, Bodies Thrown Overboard by Smugglers

Twenty-two migrants died during a perilous six-day journey across the Mediterranean Sea, their bodies thrown overboard on the orders of smugglers, according to survivor accounts provided to Greek authorities. The incident occurred off the southern coast of Crete, where a European border agency vessel rescued 26 survivors late Friday.

The rubber boat had departed from Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on March 21, carrying migrants seeking asylum in the European Union. The vessel drifted for six days after the passengers lost their bearings, enduring unfavorable weather conditions and severe shortages of food and water. Greek coast guard officials stated that exhaustion from these hardships led to the deaths. The boat was located 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, a town on Crete's southern shore, when the rescue operation began.

Among the survivors were 21 Bangladeshi nationals, four from South Sudan and one from Chad, including a woman and a minor. Two of those rescued required medical attention and were transferred to a hospital in Heraklion on Crete, while the others received care on shore. Survivors recounted to the coast guard how one of the smugglers directed the...