- At least 12 people, including three children, lost their lives
- The incident occurred at dawn
- The cause of the accident remains unclear
At least 12 people, including three children, lost their lives when a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Djerba, Tunisia, on Monday.
The incident occurred at dawn, and only 29 individuals were rescued from the sinking vessel.
The cause of the accident remains unclear.
Tunisian authorities were alerted to the tragedy by four survivors who managed to swim back to shore.
Tunisia and Libya have become major departure points for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.
The perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea is fueled by Tunisia’s economic stagnation and political instability.
Tens of thousands of Tunisians attempt to migrate each year, with Italy being a primary destination. Since January 1, at least 103 boats have capsized off Tunisia’s coast, resulting in the deaths of over 341 people.
The FTDES rights group reports that in 2023 alone, more than 1,300 people perished or went missing in shipwrecks near Tunisia.
According to the International Organization for Migration, over 30,000 migrants have lost their lives while crossing the Mediterranean in the past decade.
