At least 682 people were confirmed missing as of March 16, making the start of 2026 the deadliest on record for the route, according to the International Organization for Migration, though officials say the true toll is likely significantly higher.

Humanitarian groups and researchers say a growing lack of transparency from authorities is obscuring the number of deaths at sea, with fewer incidents documented or independently verified.

“It’s a strategy of silence,” said Matteo Villa of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, pointing to the absence of official data releases and limited responses to media inquiries.Even the IOM has struggled to track cases. Julia Black, who leads its Missing Migrants Project, said the agency has created a separate dataset for “unverifiable cases,” with more than 400 already recorded this year alone.

Concerns intensified after Cyclone Harry struck in late January, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and high waves that disrupted migration routes.Groups including Refugees in Libya reported more than 1,000 people missing following the storm, though authorities have neither confirmed nor denied those figures.

In the weeks after the cyclone, bodies were found along coastlines in Italy and Libya, while others were seen floating at sea. Only one known survivor has been identified from boats reported missing during that period.Limited official responseRepeated requests for information by media outlets to authorities in Italy, Tunisia and Malta have gone unanswered.

Agencies have either declined to comment or said they lack verified information.Frontex said it detected several migrant boats during the cyclone period, with some rescued, but confirmed that the fate of others remains unknown.

Analysts say the information gap reflects a broader policy shift. Tunisia curtailed public data on migrant interceptions in 2024, citing security concerns, while Italy gradually reduced reporting on rescue operations, discontinuing detailed updates in recent years.

The tightening flow of information has coincided with wider crackdowns on migration across the region, including restrictions on humanitarian groups and reduced funding, limiting independent monitoring.

For families of missing migrants, the absence of verified information has compounded the humanitarian toll, leaving many without answers about the fate of their relatives.

The sailors had been taken to a government hospital after they were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities earlier in the week. Medical officials said the crew received treatment for dehydration, exhaustion and minor injuries sustained during the incident.Hospital administrators said the group was released after doctors determined their condition had stabilized and no further medical supervision was required. The sailors were handed over to Sri Lankan maritime and immigration authorities for the next stage of administrative processing.

Officials at the hospital said the Iranian crew members were admitted as a precautionary measure following their rescue. According to medical staff, most of the sailors were suffering from fatigue and dehydration after spending an extended period at sea before being brought ashore.Doctors monitored the crew for several days while providing fluids, rest and routine medical checks. Hospital officials said none of the sailors required intensive care and their condition steadily improved during treatment.After completing the medical evaluation, the hospital confirmed the sailors were fit to leave the facility. Authorities coordinated their discharge with maritime and diplomatic officials.

Sri Lankan maritime authorities said the sailors had been rescued following an incident involving their vessel in waters near Sri Lanka. Details of the rescue operation were not immediately disclosed, but officials said the crew were brought safely to shore before being transported to hospital.Rescue teams routinely coordinate with the Sri Lankan navy and coast guard in response to maritime emergencies in the region, which sits along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe.Authorities said the priority in such operations is stabilizing survivors and ensuring they receive medical attention upon arrival.Administrative and diplomatic proceduresFollowing their discharge from hospital, the sailors were transferred to the custody of relevant Sri Lankan authorities while officials work with diplomatic representatives to arrange their next steps.Government officials said such cases typically involve coordination between maritime agencies, immigration authorities and the relevant foreign embassy to facilitate repatriation or onward travel once medical treatment is completed.Sri Lanka frequently handles maritime rescue cases involving international crews because of its location near major global shipping routes across the Indian Ocean.The sailors are expected to remain under administrative supervision until formal procedures related to their rescue and travel arrangements are completed, authorities said.