Five bodies in Libya. Three off Crete. The Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
At least eight migrants have been found dead in separate incidents in Libya and Greece, underscoring the mounting human toll of Mediterranean sea crossings.
In Libya, police recovered the bodies of five asylum seekers that washed ashore near the coastal town of Qasr al-Akhyar, east of Tripoli. Local residents first discovered the remains on Saturday and alerted authorities.
Hassan al-Ghawil, head of investigations at the local police station, said the bodies appeared to belong to dark-skinned migrants, including two women. Residents also reported seeing a child’s body briefly wash ashore before being pulled back out to sea. Officials warned that additional bodies may still surface.
The discovery comes weeks after the International Organization for Migration reported that 53 migrants, including two infants, were dead or missing after a rubber boat capsized off western Libya.
In a separate tragedy, Greek authorities said three migrants died after a wooden vessel overturned off the coast of Crete. At least 20 survivors were rescued, many of them Egyptians and Sudanese nationals, including four minors.
According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, the boat capsized as passengers attempted to climb rescue ladders during an operation involving a commercial ship. Search efforts continued with patrol boats, aircraft and vessels from Frontex.
Survivors told authorities that approximately 50 people had been aboard the boat. A second vessel carrying around 40 migrants was also spotted nearby, prompting another rescue operation.
Libya has remained a major departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi. The United Nations has repeatedly warned of severe human rights abuses faced by migrants in Libya, including torture, sexual violence and forced labor. A recent UN report called for a halt to returns to Libya until basic protections are guaranteed.
Crete has become a key entry point into the European Union. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that more than 16,700 asylum seekers arrived in Crete in 2025 alone, while at least 107 people died or went missing in Greek waters that year.
Despite intensified patrols and political debate across Europe, the Mediterranean continues to claim lives — a grim reminder of the desperation driving thousands to risk everything at sea.
