Overview
- The Greek coastguard said 26 people were rescued south of Crete late Friday after a rubber boat drifted for six days and 22 others died.
- Survivors told officials that smugglers ordered the dead thrown into the sea, prompting the arrest of two South Sudanese men, 19 and 22, on suspicion of illegal entry and negligent homicide.
- The coastguard said the journey began March 21 from Tobruk in eastern Libya, a common launch point for attempts to reach Greece.
- A Frontex patrol ship located the group about 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, and two of the survivors were taken to a hospital in Heraklion.
- EU and UN agencies report a sharp rise in Mediterranean deaths in early 2026, and EU officials and lawmakers are pressing tougher measures against smuggling networks, including proposed return hubs.