Twenty-two migrants die off Greek coast after six days at sea

(Reuters)་་་

March 28 – Twenty-two migrants have died off the ‌coast of Greece after spending six days at sea in a rubber boat, the Greek coast guard said in ​a statement late on Friday.

Twenty-six people were ​rescued by a Frontex European border agency vessel ⁠off the island of Crete.

“During the journey, the ​passengers (of the rubber boat) lost their orientation and remained ​at sea for six days without water and food,” it said.

Rescued migrants told authorities that 22 of them died ​while at sea and the bodies were thrown ​overboard on the orders of one of the traffickers, the ‌statement ⁠said.

Greece has long been a favoured gateway to Europe for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

In 2015-16, it was at ​the frontline of ​Europe’s migration ⁠crisis and nearly 1 million people landed on its islands, mainly from ​Turkey.

Many are still attempting to cross the ​Mediterranean ⁠sea in boats and accidents are not rare.

Greece has since toughened its stance on migrants, reinforcing ⁠border controls ​with fences and sea patrols.