The bodies of 20 migrants were recovered after a shipwreck off Tunisia’s Mediterranean coastline near Sfax, a common departure point for those attempting to reach Europe by boat, Tunisian authorities reported on Wednesday.
The National Guard confirmed that coast guard teams rescued five survivors and retrieved 20 bodies approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Sfax. The location lies about 81 miles (130 kilometers) from Lampedusa, an Italian island often reached by migrants.
Authorities did not disclose the total number of people aboard the vessel when it capsized and said efforts to locate more missing individuals were ongoing.
Despite efforts by Tunisian authorities, supported by European nations, to bolster border security and combat illegal migration, fatalities at sea remain frequent. Last week, nine bodies were discovered along the same coastline.
The boats used by migrants and smugglers are often unseaworthy, leading to frequent drownings. While exact figures remain uncertain, international organizations and local NGOs estimate that hundreds have died or gone missing at sea this year.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 1,100 individuals have perished or disappeared in the central Mediterranean in 2024, with Tunisia and Libya identified as key departure points.
The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights estimates between 600 and 700 deaths or disappearances in Tunisian waters alone this year.
According to UNHCR, over 19,000 migrants have left Tunisia for Italy in 2024, compared to more than 96,000 by this time in 2023. Many migrants who reach Italy later apply for asylum, with the majority in 2024 originating from Bangladesh, Tunisia, and Syria.
Thousands of migrants in Tunisia live in makeshift camps near Sfax’s coastline, sheltering under olive trees in precarious conditions. Despite no official count of migrants within the country, the camps reflect the ongoing humanitarian challenges faced by those seeking to cross into Europe.
