At least 40 migrants, including several children, have died after a boat carrying dozens of people sank off Tunisia’s central coast, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The vessel went down near the Mediterranean port city of Mahdia while carrying around 70 migrants, most of whom were from sub-Saharan African countries. About 30 survivors were rescued, and a search operation is continuing, local officials said.
Tunisian authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the sinking, one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region this year.
Tunisia has become a major departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, often aboard unsafe boats operated by smugglers. Thousands make the dangerous journey across the Central Mediterranean every year in hopes of finding safety and better living conditions.
According to UN data, more than 210,000 people attempted the crossing in 2023, with nearly 2,000 losing their lives at sea.
The European Union and Tunisia signed a $118 million deal last year to curb irregular migration by strengthening border control and cracking down on human smuggling networks.
Despite such efforts, tragedies at sea continue to claim lives, underscoring the growing desperation of those fleeing poverty, war, and instability across Africa.