Athens, Greece – Eight bodies of asylum seekers have been recovered in separate incidents off the coasts of Libya and Greece, highlighting the escalating human cost of perilous Mediterranean crossings. Five bodies were found washed ashore near Tripoli, Libya, while three others were recovered off the coast of Crete, Greece, after a wooden boat carrying migrants capsized.
Five Bodies Found in Libya, More Feared Lost
Police in Libya reported on Saturday the recovery of five bodies of asylum seekers near the capital, Tripoli. Residents of the coastal town of Qasr al-Akhyar discovered the bodies. Hassan Al-Ghawil, head of investigations at the Qasr Al-Akhyar police station, confirmed that all bodies were of dark-skinned individuals, including two women. He further noted that a child’s body was reportedly seen before being pulled back to sea by waves. “We reported to the Red Crescent to recover the bodies,” Ghawil stated. “The bodies we found are still intact, and we think there are more bodies to wash ashore.”
This tragedy follows weeks after the International Organization for Migration reported that 53 migrants, including two babies, were dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Zuwara town in western Tripoli.
Three Bodies and 20 Rescued Off Crete, Greece
Concurrently, Greek authorities responded to a separate incident in the eastern Mediterranean. The Athens News Agency reported on Saturday that three bodies were recovered, and at least 20 people were rescued after a wooden boat carrying migrants and asylum seekers capsized off the coast of Crete. The majority of survivors were identified as Egyptians and Sudanese, including four minors.
According to the Greek public broadcaster ERT, the wooden boat capsized when passengers attempted to climb ladders during a rescue effort initiated by a commercial ship. A spokesperson for the Greek coastguard informed AFP that search operations for additional survivors are ongoing, involving four patrol boats, an aircraft, and two ships from the European border agency Frontex. ERT indicated that survivors estimated approximately 50 people were on board the wooden boat.
A second boat, carrying around 40 migrants and asylum seekers, was subsequently spotted in the area, prompting another rescue operation.
Perilous Journeys and Human Rights Concerns
Thousands of individuals undertake the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean from Libya to Europe annually. Libya has become a primary transit route for people fleeing conflict and poverty, a situation exacerbated since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
Last week, a UN report highlighted the severe risks faced by migrants in Libya, including young girls, who are vulnerable to being killed, tortured, raped, or forced into domestic slavery. The report called for a moratorium on the return of migrant boats to Libya until human rights protections can be guaranteed.
Many migrants and asylum seekers departing from Libya aim to reach Crete, which serves as a gateway to the European Union. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 16,770 people seeking asylum in Europe arrived in Crete in 2025.
In response to the surge in arrivals, the conservative Greek government temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications for three months last summer, particularly for those arriving from Libya. The UNHCR reported that 107 people died or went missing in Greek waters in 2025.
The continuous loss of life underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and humane solutions to address the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.
