Eight bodies recovered in Libya, Greece as Mediterranean death toll rises
Al Jazeera
February 22, 2026
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Eight bodies were recovered in separate incidents along the Mediterranean coastlines of Libya and Greece, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting the perilous journey from Africa to Europe. In Libya, five asylum seekers’ bodies washed ashore near Tripoli, with two being women and one reportedly a child. The discovery was made by residents of Qasr al-Akhyar, who alerted local authorities. Meanwhile, in Greece, three individuals lost their lives when a wooden boat carrying approximately 50 migrants capsized off the coast of Crete. At least 20 people were rescued, with survivors including Egyptians and Sudanese nationals, some of whom were minors.
The incidents highlight the dire conditions faced by migrants in both countries. In Libya, migrants often endure extreme risks, including torture, forced labor, and exploitation. The UN has previously reported that thousands of migrants attempt the dangerous crossing annually, with many seeking to reach Crete as a gateway to Europe. The situation has been exacerbated by the suspension of asylum processing in Greece for three months last summer, particularly affecting those arriving from Libya.
These tragedies come amid a broader pattern of loss of life at sea. Earlier in February, 53 migrants were reported dead or missing after a rubber boat capsized near Zuwara town in western Tripoli. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also noted that extreme weather conditions in the central Mediterranean have led to numerous unrecorded deaths. With hundreds of lives lost each year, the crisis continues to demand urgent attention.
The ongoing instability and human rights violations faced by migrants in Libya
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/22/2026