Media: Forty African migrants found dead after shipwreck off Tunisia

Forty African migrants were found dead following a shipwreck off the coast of Tunisia, while 30 others were rescued, a judicial spokesperson confirmed.

“Initial investigations indicate that there were 70 people on board the vessel,” said Walid Chtabri, spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office in Mahdia, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“Forty bodies, including infants, were recovered, and 30 people were rescued,” he added.

Tunisia, located just 145 kilometres (about 90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, remains a key transit point for thousands of African migrants attempting the perilous sea journey to Europe each year.

According to the latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 55,000 irregular migrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year. The majority departed from Libya, while nearly 4,000 embarked from Tunisia.

The central Mediterranean route is considered one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors. Since 2014, at least 32,803 people have been reported dead or missing along this route, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

As the European Union intensifies its efforts to curb irregular migration, many migrants have found themselves stranded in Tunisia, unable to continue their journey or return home.

In 2023, Tunisia signed a €255 million ($290 million) agreement with the European Union, nearly half of which was allocated to addressing irregular migration. The deal—strongly backed by Italy’s hard-right government—was designed to strengthen Tunisia’s capacity to prevent migrant boats from leaving its shores.

Earlier this year, Tunisian President Kais Saied urged the IOM to expedite voluntary repatriation programs for irregular migrants wishing to return to their home countries.

By Vafa Guliyeva