Two migrants die off Greek coast after spending six days at sea in a rubber boat

Rescued migrants told authorities that 22 of ‌them died while at sea and ‌the bodies were thrown overboard on the orders of one of the traffickers
Twenty-two migrants have died off the coast of ⁠Greece after spending six days at sea in a rubber boat, the Greek coast guard said in a statement late on Friday.

Twenty-six people ⁠were rescued by a ​Frontex ⁠European border agency vessel off the island of Crete.

"During the journey, the ⁠passengers (of the rubber boat) lost their orientation and ​remained ⁠at sea for ‌six days without water and food," it said.

Greece has ⁠long been a favoured gateway to Europe for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

In 2015-16, it was at the frontline of Europe's migration crisis and nearly 1 million people landed on its ‌islands, mainly from Turkey.

Many are still ​attempting to cross the Mediterranean sea ‌in boats and accidents ⁠are not rare.

Greece has since toughened ⁠its stance on migrants, reinforcing border controls with fences ‌and sea ​patrols.

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