A shipwreck off the eastern coast of Tunisia has claimed the lives of at least 20 migrants, while five others were rescued, according to the National Guard, which oversees the country’s coastguard.
The maritime units recovered 20 bodies and continue to search for further survivors after rescuing five migrants of sub-Saharan African origin from a boat that sank near El Louza, north of the city of Sfax. The boat had departed from the Chebba area, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the coast, at around 11:00 pm (2200 GMT) on Tuesday before it sank.
This tragic incident follows a previous shipwreck on December 12, where nine migrants died, and 27 others were rescued, though six remain missing.
Sfax has become a key departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with many attempting the perilous Mediterranean sea crossing to Italy, just 150 kilometres (90 miles) away. Tunisia has seen a significant rise in migrant deaths, with Tunisian human rights group FTDES reporting between 600 and 700 deaths or disappearances in 2024 alone, following more than 1,300 fatalities in 2023.
