The Tunisian coast guard has found the bodies of 20 migrants from Africa after the boat they were on sank off the coast, authorities said, in the second migrant drowning tragedy in a week off the coast of Tunisia, Reuters reported.
Last Thursday, the Tunisian coast guard found the bodies of nine migrants and six are still missing after their boat sank while sailing to Europe.
Today, the coast guard rescued five others who were on the same boat and operations are underway to search for the missing. The boat sank off the coast of the city of Sfax, a major departure point, especially for African migrants.
Tunisia is grappling with an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as the main departure point for both Tunisians and people from other parts of Africa seeking a better life in Europe, Reuters notes.