Twelve people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the southeastern coast of Tunisia, while two others remain missing as search operations continue.
The vessel was carrying 15 Tunisian migrants when it sank about 14 nautical miles off the coast of Zarzis late on Friday. Only one person was rescued alive after reportedly spending hours adrift at sea.
Tunisia’s National Guard said search teams recovered three bodies initially, followed by nine more, bringing the confirmed death toll to 12. Authorities said two passengers were still unaccounted for.
The boat had reportedly departed from the area between Zarzis and Ben Guerdane and was believed to be heading towards Italy. Among those on board were seven members of the same family, as well as a man travelling with his pregnant wife.
The sole survivor was reportedly rescued by a commercial vessel after drifting at sea for an extended period. Rescue teams, including coastguard units and other emergency personnel, continued searching the surrounding waters for the missing passengers.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over the dangers faced by people attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of better economic opportunities and a route into Europe.
Tunisia has become one of the major departure points for migrants attempting to reach Italy by sea. The journey is frequently undertaken in overcrowded or poorly equipped boats, exposing passengers to severe risks from rough weather, mechanical failures and capsizing.
The latest incident has also triggered anger among residents in the Ben Guerdane area, with protests reported over the handling of the search operation and demands for authorities to intensify efforts to locate those still missing.
Families of the victims are now awaiting further information as authorities continue recovery operations and work to identify those whose bodies have been recovered.
The incident is another reminder of the continuing dangers along the central Mediterranean migration route, one of the world's deadliest maritime migration routes.
No comments:
Post a Comment