27 Migrants Dead in Boat Capsizing off Central Tunisia
A tragic incident occurred off central Tunisia, where 27 migrants, including women and children, lost their lives after two boats capsized. The rescue operation, led by civil defense officials, saved 83 individuals, all of whom were attempting to reach Europe. The victims and survivors were from sub-Saharan African countries and were found near the Kerkennah Islands, according to Zied Sdiri, head of the Sfax Civil Defense.
The Tunisian National Guard, which oversees the coastguard, continues to search for additional missing passengers.
Tunisia has become a critical departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, particularly to Italy, with Lampedusa only 150 kilometers away. The Mediterranean crossing is notoriously perilous, and recent shipwrecks, fueled by poor weather conditions, have claimed many lives.
This latest tragedy follows a similar incident on December 18, where at least 20 migrants died off Sfax, and another on December 12, when 27 African migrants were rescued near Jebeniana, with 15 others reported dead or missing.
Since the start of 2024, the Tunisian human rights group FTDES has documented between 600 and 700 migrant deaths or disappearances due to shipwrecks off Tunisia. In 2023, more than 1,300 migrants were either killed or went missing in such tragedies.
