At least 12 die, 10 missing as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

At least 12 people died, including three infants, and 10 others were missing after their boat sank on Monday off the Tunisian coast at Djerba as they sought to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

The coast guard rescued 29 people who had been on board the crowded boat, an official said.

Human Rights Observatory, a local rights group, said that all the migrants on board were Tunisians barring two Moroccans.

Tunisia is facing an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as the major departure point for both Tunisians and people from elsewhere in Africa seeking a better life in Europe.

A boat in distress with about 400 people on board is pictured in Central Mediterranean in this handout obtained by Reuters on April 10, 2023 Reuters

Two days ago, a boat carrying migrants capsized off Spain’s Canary Islands overnight, killing at least nine people and leaving 48 missing, the National Maritime Rescue Service said on Saturday.

Eighty-four people were on board and 27 were rescued after rescuers responded to a distress call received shortly after midnight from off El Hierro, one of the islands in the archipelago, a statement said.This follows the death of 39 migrants in early September when their boat sank off Senegal while attempting a similar crossing to the Canaries, from where migrants hope to reach mainland Europe.Thousands of migrants have died in recent years setting off into the Atlantic to reach Europe onboard overcrowded and often dilapidated boats.