Tunisia: Forty migrants, including infants, die in boat tragedy off Tunisian coast

At least forty migrants,among them infants,died after a boat bound for Europe capsized off the coast of Mahdia in central Tunisia on Wednesday,October 22.

According to Mahdia court spokesman Walid Charbi,Tunisian naval units rescued around thirty survivors from the vessel,which was carrying migrants largely from sub-Saharan Africa. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the sinking,and the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

Mahdia,Tunisia’s second-largest departure point for Europe-bound boats,has become a focal point in the ongoing migrant crisis,with increasing numbers attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing. In response,Tunisian security forces have intensified operations to intercept such journeys amid mounting fatalities at sea. The latest disaster underscores the persistent risks faced by migrants seeking better opportunities in Europe despite the tightening of border and maritime controls.