The Tunisian National Guard rescued 29 survivors from the overcrowded vessel, while four migrants managed to swim back to shore. The majority of the passengers were Tunisian nationals.
Tunisia and Libya have become major departure points for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. The perilous sea crossing has claimed countless lives, with over 1,300 people dying or disappearing in shipwrecks off the Tunisian coast last year.
The central Mediterranean is one of the deadliest migratory routes, with thousands of people losing their lives each year. The European Union’s efforts to curb migration have led to increased cooperation with the Libyan coastguard, but this has also resulted in many migrants being stranded in Libya, a country plagued by instability and human trafficking.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that hundreds of thousands of migrants are currently in Libya, making it a dangerous and challenging environment for those seeking to reach Europe.
RT/Sf/ac/fss/abj/APA