EDIRNE — 2022 · Major Tragedy

Migrants Frozen to Death on the İpsala Border

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 2 February 2022, 12 irregular migrants were found to have frozen to death near the Greek border in the İpsala district of Edirne. The figure, first given as nine, rose to 12 later the same day. Turkey's Interior Ministry alleged that the 22-strong group had been pushed back into Turkey by Greek border units after their clothes and shoes were taken, a claim the interior minister also made publicly. The Edirne governorate said search operations were continuing and that one person at risk of hypothermia had been taken to hospital. Reports the next day said further bodies had been found and the death toll had risen to 19. Greece called the accusations unfounded. The incident brought allegations of pushbacks along the Evros/Meriç and Aegean frontier back onto the international agenda.

Date: 2022
Place: İpsala, Edirne
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 40.9200, 26.3800 ↗

Timeline of Events

2 February 2022Migrants were found frozen to death in the İpsala border area; the toll rose to 12 the same day.
2 February 2022Turkey's Interior Ministry alleged the group had been stripped and pushed back by Greek units.
3 February 2022Further bodies were reportedly found, raising the toll to 19; Greece rejected the claims.

Sources

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