At least 21 people have died after a migrant boat sank in Mediterranean waters near the Tunisian port city of Sfax, Tunisian media reported on April 16.
Tunisia said the ship was carrying 41 people, all from sub-Saharan Africa. They set off from Sfax on the evening of the 15th local time, trying to sail to the Italian coast across the Mediterranean Sea.
After the incident, the Tunisian coast guard went to the scene of the accident to rescue. Only three survivors have been rescued; of the 21 bodies recovered, including nine women and one infant; and 17 are missing. The cause of the ship’s sinking is not yet known.
Located on the Mediterranean coast, Sfax is Tunisia’s second largest city and an important port city. In recent years, it has become a major starting point for African migrants fleeing conflict or poor living conditions to reach Europe.
