CAIRO, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Egypt said Wednesday that 18 of its 
citizens were still missing after a migrant boat capsized, killing four 
people, off the Greek island of Crete last week.

The wooden boat was carrying 50 people, including four minors, when Greece's 
coast guard was alerted late Friday.

Greek authorities then directed a commercial vessel to the area for a rescue 
operation.

According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, an accident occurred when the 
commercial vessel approached the migrants' boat.

As the passengers tried to climb up ladders into the rescue vessel, a sudden 
movement caused the wooden boat to capsize.

Egypt's foreign ministry said that 21 Egyptians were on board the boat when 
it capsized, three of whom have been found dead while the rest remain 
missing.

The body of a 28-year-old Sudanese woman was also discovered, according to 
the Greek coast guard.

Twenty migrants were rescued by the commercial vessel, according to the Greek 
authorities, leaving several people still unaccounted for.

Greek authorities arrested two Sudanese men suspected of being people 
smugglers who are set to appear before judges on Wednesday, according to 
local media Creta24.

The migrant boat is believed to have departed from Libya.

Migrants regularly attempt the perilous crossing from Libya to Crete, a 
gateway to the European Union.

More than 17,000 Egyptians reached Europe via the Mediterranean last year, 
making them the top African and second-largest global group of irregular 
migrants to Europe.

Many come from poor towns in Egypt's Nile Delta and travel via Libya, where 
they face arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence and forced labour.

They are often extorted and held hostage until their families back home send 
the smugglers more money.

Egypt's foreign ministry warned citizens to "exercise extreme caution to 
avoid being misled by illegal immigration gangs", and said it was 
coordinating the repatriation of the deceased.