Egypt's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that 18 Egyptian nationals remain unaccounted for following a deadly migrant boat capsizing off the Greek island of Crete late last week. The incident has confirmed the deaths of at least four people.

The wooden vessel, carrying around 50 migrants—including four minors—departed from Libya and was en route to Europe when Greece's coast guard received an alert late Friday. Authorities directed a nearby commercial ship to the scene to assist with rescue efforts.

According to Greek media and officials, the capsize occurred as migrants attempted to board the rescue vessel via ladders. A sudden movement reportedly caused the overcrowded boat to overturn.

Egyptian authorities confirmed that 21 Egyptians were among those on board. Of these, three have been found dead, while 18 are still missing. Greek coast guard reports also noted the recovery of a 28-year-old Sudanese woman's body.

The commercial vessel successfully rescued twenty migrants, including several minors. The total number of fatalities and missing persons suggests a grim outcome for many others on board.

Greek police have taken two citizens of Sudan, suspected of being involved in people smuggling, into custody. They are expected to appear before judges shortly, local outlets such as Creta24 reported.

The boat is believed to have originated from Libya, a common departure point for dangerous Mediterranean crossings toward Crete, which serves as an entry point to the European Union.

Egyptians represent one of the largest groups attempting these irregular routes. Last year, more than 17,000 Egyptians reached Europe via the Mediterranean, making them the top African nationality and the second-largest overall among irregular migrants to the continent.

Many originate from impoverished areas in Egypt's Nile Delta. They often travel through Libya, where they face severe risks, including arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, forced labor, and extortion by smugglers who hold migrants hostage until families pay additional ransoms.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry urged citizens to "exercise extreme caution" and avoid falling victim to illegal immigration networks. The ministry added that it is coordinating with Greek authorities to repatriate the bodies of the deceased Egyptians.

This incident underscores the ongoing dangers of Mediterranean migration routes, with recent reports from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighting similar tragedies claiming dozens of lives in recent days.

Source: AFP/Greek News