A boat sinks off the coast of Tunisia, killing 43 people

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 07:57 am

According to the Tunisian Red Crescent, 43 migrants drowned after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia. The migrants had set sail from Zuwara, Libya, in an attempt to traverse the Mediterranean Sea and reach Europe. The Tunisian navy saved another 84 people, according to Mongi Slim, the head of Tunisia’s Red Crescent.

The hot weather has increased the number of migrants attempting to enter Europe from North Africa. According to the Red Crescent, the boat was transporting individuals from Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Bangladesh when it set off on Monday night.

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After the vessel’s engine failed, it capsized. According to Tunisia’s defense ministry, those rescued were aged three to forty and were found off the coast of the Tunisian fishing port of Zarzis.

According to local media radio, the Tunisian Red Crescent provided them with food and water while they searched for a place to keep them for the mandatory Covid isolation period.

Libya has long been a major transit hub for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. Tunisia, on the other hand, has emerged as a significant transit point and has urged the European Union to address migration by assisting African countries in combating poverty.