27 Die, 87 Rescued As Migrant Boats Sink Off Tunisia’s Coast

At least 27 persons have died after two boats carrying African migrants sank while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia’s coast guard reported on Thursday.

The tragic incidents occurred near Sfax, a city that has become a common departure point for migrants, often from other African countries, who risk perilous Mediterranean Sea journeys in the hopes of better lives in Europe.

Alongside the recovery of the deceased, the Tunisian coast guard successfully rescued 87 people from the same vessels.

This latest tragedy follows similar incidents last month, where about 30 migrants lost their lives in two separate boat mishaps near Tunisia.

In October, the bodies of 16 people were recovered, while at least 15 Tunisians died in September, including three infants, after their boat sank off the Tunisian coast at Djerba as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Tunisia is currently facing an unprecedented migration crisis, with the country surpassing Libya as the primary departure point for migrants.

27 Die, 87 Rescued As Migrant Boats Sink Off Tunisia’s Coast is first published on The Whistler Newspaper