TUNIS: Tunisian officials said on Friday that at least 34 African migrants were missing following their boat sank off Tunisia, the 5th shipwreck in just two days, raising the total number of missing people to 67 amid a sharp increase in ships heading towards Italy.
The Italian officials said on Thursday the country’s coast guard had rescued around 750 migrants in two separate rescue operations off the southern Italian coastline, hours following at least 5 people died and over 33 were missing in an attempted sea crossing from Tunisia.
34 African Migrants Missing
Tunisian officials told Reuters that 7 people had died including babies and children in the ship capsizes off the beach of the city of Sfax.
Houssem Jebabli, an official at the National Guard told the media that the Coast Guard had stopped 56 ships heading for Italy in last two days and arrested over 3,000 migrants.
According to the United Nations, 12,000 migrants who have reached Italy in the current year set sail from Tunisia. Earlier, Libya was the key launch pad for migrants from the Africa.
The coastline of Sfax has become a main departure point for people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East for a better life in European countries.
Tunisia is also struggling with its worst financial problems due to stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan amid fears of a default in loan repayment, raising concerns in Europe, particularly in neighboring Italy.
