| Reported: 14 July 2025 | |
| Location: Europe | |
Incident Details
Human migration across the maritime domain remains a significant concern, particularly on routes to Europe. During the first half of 2025, migration events continued across the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, and from West Africa. The Central Mediterranean route from Libya and Tunisia to Italy continues to be the deadliest, with thousands attempting the crossing monthly despite harsh conditions and frequent fatalities. The Eastern Mediterranean route, used by migrants departing from Turkey towards Greece and Cyprus, has also seen renewed activity due to instability in Syria.
Fig1. Location of Incident – Main Migratory Routes into Europe
Comment. According to UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) data, 68,711 migrants have reached the EU via maritime routes so far in 2025. Sadly, 517 migrants are confirmed as dead or missing in the Mediterranean and Northwest African sea routes to Europe, which compares to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) figures of 836 total deaths globally on migratory journeys. These figures likely understate the true toll, as many deaths in remote sea areas go unrecorded, highlighting the urgent need for safer passage and expanded search-and-rescue efforts in Europe’s migration corridors. Many migrant routes cross international shipping lanes, which often puts commercial ships in a legal and ethical situation where they are required to assist human migration events under the International Conventions for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Regulations. Recognising the role of ship crews in these situations is important. Properly prepared and trained ship crews can serve as essential first responders, capable of providing immediate assistance to migrants in distress. Contact Neptune P2P Group, if you require any further assistance.
