A deadly migrant boat tragedy unfolded off the southern coast of Crete this week, leaving at least 22 people dead after days at sea without food or water, Greek authorities said.

The incident occurred in waters about 52 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, a coastal town on the island of Crete, where a rescue operation was launched on March 26 following an alert from Greece’s Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

A vessel operated by the European border agency Frontex located an inflatable boat carrying migrants in distress. Twenty-six people — including 24 men, one woman and one minor — were rescued and brought ashore with the assistance of a local vessel to the port of Kaloi Limenes, before being transferred to Heraklion.

Two of the survivors required hospital treatment and were taken to medical facilities in Heraklion, authorities said.

Six Days Adrift at Sea

According to testimony from those rescued, the boat had departed from the Tobruk area in Libya on the evening of March 21, carrying a total of 48 people bound for Greece. Survivors reported paying significant sums to secure passage to Greece. According to authorities, payments included amounts equivalent to 1 million Bangladeshi taka, $10,000, or 12,000 Libyan dinars per person.

During the journey, the vessel reportedly lost its way, leaving those on board stranded at sea for six days without access to food or drinking water.

Survivors told authorities that 22 people died as a result of the harsh conditions. They also alleged that, under orders from one of the smugglers, the bodies of the deceased were thrown into the sea.

Arrests and Smuggling Allegations

Greek authorities have arrested two men, aged 19 and 22, both nationals of South Sudan, on suspicion of human smuggling and related offenses.

The suspects face multiple charges, including facilitating illegal entry into Greece, co-perpetration, exposing others to life-threatening danger, and negligent homicide.

The investigation is being conducted by the Heraklion Port Authority.