22 feared dead after migrant dinghy drifts for days, 26 rescued
A migrant dinghy in distress south of Crete triggered a rescue operation that saved 26 people, while survivors reported that 22 others died during a multi-day journey at sea.
According to the coast guard, authorities were alerted at noon on Thursday to a vessel 52 nautical miles south of Ierapetra.
A Frontex vessel located the inflatable boat and rescued 24 men, one woman and one minor, transferring them to the port of Kaloi Limenes before they were taken to Iraklio. Two required hospital treatment.
Survivors said the boat departed from the Libyan port city of Tobruk on March 21 with 48 people on board.
They reported being stranded for six days without food or water, with 22 passengers dying from hardship and their bodies thrown overboard.
Some survivors said they paid sums ranging from €7,100 to 8,500 for their passage to Greece.
Authorities arrested two suspected traffickers, aged 19 and 22 and both nationals of South Sudan, were arrested as the investigation continues.
