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.
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.