Eight Bodies Found in Libya and Greece Amid Rising Mediterranean Toll

Five Asylum Seekers Found Dead in Libya, Three Others Die Off Greek Coast

Authorities in Libya have recovered the bodies of five asylum seekers who washed ashore near Tripoli, according to a police officer. The bodies were found on Saturday by residents of Qasr al-Akhyar, and two of them were identified as women. A child’s body was also reportedly seen washing ashore before being returned to sea.

The incident occurred weeks after an International Organization for Migration report stated that 53 migrants, including two babies, died or went missing in a rubber boat capsizing off the coast of Zuwara town in western Tripoli.

Meanwhile, Greek authorities reported recovering three bodies and rescuing at least 20 people after a wooden boat carrying migrants and asylum seekers capsized off the coast of Crete. The survivors included Egyptians and Sudanese people, as well as four minors. The search for survivors continued with multiple patrol boats, an aircraft, and two ships from the European border agency Frontex.

The incident is part of a larger trend of thousands of people attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Europe every year. Many migrants and asylum seekers depart from Libya, seeking to arrive in Crete, which serves as the gateway to the EU. In recent years, there have been concerns about the safety and treatment of migrants in Libya.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 16,770 people arrived in Crete in 2025, seeking asylum in Europe. The Greek government has suspended processing of asylum applications for three months, particularly for those arriving from Libya, amid a surge in arrivals.

Source: Al Jazeera