Eight migrants dead after boat sinks off Tunisia’s coast

Rescue teams in Tunisia recovered the bodies of eight African migrants after their boat sank near Sfax, with search operations continuing for potential missing persons.

Tunisia’s coast guard recovered the bodies of eight African migrants on Monday after their boat sank off the country’s coast during an attempt to reach Europe, according to a security official speaking to Reuters. Another 29 people were rescued from the water.

The boat went down near the city of Abwabed, close to Sfax, an area frequently used by migrants as a departure point. Houssem Eddine Jebabli, an official in the national guard, confirmed that search operations were ongoing to locate any other possible survivors.

Tunisia is currently facing a severe migration crisis, having become a key departure hub for migrants from across Africa as well as Tunisians, overtaking Libya in recent years.