Hundreds die crossing Mediterranean as 2026 already smashes records

2026.03.19 07:20 Migrants from Syria and Libya call for help as they are assisted by Spanish NGO Open Arms south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2022. Photo: AP The first two months of 2026 saw a record number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, despite fewer crossing attempts towards Europe, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). At least 655 people died or went missing in January and February - more than double the 287 recorded for the same period last year. NGOs and researchers said the reasons were multiple: storms, complications for rescue operations and border closures. Frontex, the EU’s border control agency, last week blamed the high fatality count on “extreme weather conditions” over that period, such as Cyclone Harry, which struck the Mediterranean region in mid-February. Rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: SOS Humanity via AP Frontex, which hailed the decrease in irregular crossings over the two months, also pointed the finger at people smugglers it said were putting migrants to sea on flimsy craft. Arnaud Banos, a researcher at France’s CNRS science body who specialises in migration by sea, argued that “the more we apply pressure to prevent departures, the more we create ideal conditions for smugglers”, heightening the risks for migrants. Italy’s agreements with Tunisia and Libya to have them hold back migrants intent on reaching Europe have also boosted smuggling networks, which turned to operating farther from the usual towns and cities used as launching-off points, he said. “The crossings become longer, and they are very exposed to winds and strong currents. Those routes certainly are less watched, but the boats used are also less visible to rescuers,” Banos said. He added that the land route into Europe, through the Balkans, “is practically sealed shut, so the sea is the only route left”. “In the end, what we’re doing is increasing risk. The more we say we want to secure our borders for hum

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