Tunisian authorities have rescued 612 migrants and recovered 18 bodies in multiple operations overnight off the country’s Mediterranean coast, the National Guard announced on Monday. The migrants, all from sub-Saharan Africa, had been attempting the perilous sea journey to Europe when their boats capsized or broke down near the coastal region of Sfax.
Images released by the National Guard show exhausted survivors, including women and children, being pulled from the water. Some appear lifeless, while others cling desperately to large buoys. One particularly harrowing image captures a woman struggling to lift a seemingly unconscious child onto a rescue boat.
The maritime guard stated that it had thwarted several separate attempts to cross into Europe clandestinely. Tunisia, along with Libya, has become a primary departure point for migrants hoping to reach European shores. The country’s coastline is fewer than 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, making it a frequent destination for those undertaking the dangerous journey.
Every year, tens of thousands of migrants attempt the Mediterranean crossing, often in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. Many do not survive. The latest rescue efforts highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the risks faced by those seeking a better life in Europe.
