Esther Imonmion
At least 40 migrants, including infants and children, have died after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia, in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region this year, authorities confirmed.
The vessel, carrying about 70 people, sank on Wednesday near the Mediterranean port of Mahdia in central Tunisia. According to officials, all the passengers were from sub-Saharan Africa. About 30 people were rescued from the water, while search and recovery operations continued.
Tunisian authorities have launched an investigation into the causes and circumstances surrounding the sinking.
The tragedy highlights the growing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe. The route remains one of the most perilous migration paths in the world.
According to United Nations (UN) data, more than 210,000 people attempted the Central Mediterranean crossing in 2023, with over 60,000 intercepted and returned to African shores. Nearly 2,000 migrants lost their lives at sea during the same period.
Tunisia has increasingly become a key departure point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty. In February 2024, another boat sank off the Tunisian city of Sfax, killing more than 40 Sudanese nationals.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the European Union (EU) signed an agreement with Tunisia in 2023, pledging $118 million (£90 million) to help combat irregular migration, curb smuggling, and strengthen border control efforts.