The report shows 12 other victims missing after the sinking of two boats carrying illegal migrants from sub-Saharan countries, off the coast of southern Tunisia, while 37 migrants were rescued.
Tunisian media reported on Saturday the death of 13 Africans after the sinking of two boats carrying illegal migrants off the coast of southern Tunisia. So far, 12 people are still missing.
The Tunisian radio Mosaïque FM (private) affirmed that “the coasts of the delegation of El Amra (governorate of Sfax) were the scene of the sinking of two boats of illegal migrants from sub-Saharan countries (23 African countries) which caused several deaths”, without providing further details on the nationality and age of the victims.
In this regard, the spokesperson for the courts of Sfax, Mourad Turki, declared that “13 bodies have been recovered and 37 migrants have been rescued, while at least 12 other people are still missing”.
“The first boat sank on the night of April 7 to 8, about an hour and a half after leaving the coast of El Amra, where 9 bodies were recovered and 18 people rescued, while 2 to 3 people are still being carried missing,” the spokesperson added.
Mourad Turki also said that “The second boat sank yesterday (Friday), 4 bodies were recovered, 19 people were rescued and 10 others are still missing, while naval units are actively looking for them”.
Until 7:20 p.m. GMT, the Tunisian authorities had not yet issued any press release concerning the sinking of the two boats.
Attempts at irregular migration to the shores of Europe are thwarted daily by the Tunisian authorities, and hundreds of migrants from Tunisia and other African countries are intercepted and arrested for this purpose.
Recently, Tunisia has experienced a remarkable increase in irregular migration flows to Europe, particularly to the Italian coasts, in light of the repercussions of the economic and political crises in the country and in various countries in the region.
The coasts of southeastern Tunisia are frequently the scene of rescue operations for irregular migrants, whose boats often suffer damage in the Mediterranean, on the sea route between Libya and the Italian island of Lampedusa.
