Migrant Boat Bound for Europe Sinks off Tunisia, Leaving 8 Dead and 6 Missing

A migrant boat headed for Europe sank off the coast of Tunisia in North Africa on August 23 local time, leaving eight people dead and six others missing.

According to Tunisian authorities, the sunken vessel departed between Zarzis and Ben Guerdane in southeastern Tunisia on the night of August 21 and headed toward Italy before sinking about 14 nautical miles (approx. 26 kilometers) off the coast of Zarzis.

Fifteen people were aboard the vessel at the time, and only one person has been rescued so far.

The Tunisian National Guard stated, "Search operations led to the recovery of three bodies yesterday and an additional five bodies today," adding that the military, coast guard, civilian rescue workers, and helicopters have been mobilized to continue the search for the six missing individuals.

With the distance to Italy's Lampedusa Island being about 145 kilometers, Tunisia is considered one of the primary departure points for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.

The central Mediterranean migration route stretching from North Africa, including Tunisia, to Italy is also known as the deadliest migration route in the world.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 914 migrants have died or gone missing on this route alone so far this year.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.