27 Migrants Dead and 83 Rescued After Two Boats Sink Off Tunisian Coast

The boats, carrying over 100 people from sub-Saharan Africa, capsized near the Kerkennah Islands while attempting to reach Europe.

The two boats, departing from near Sfax, Tunisia, sank in the early hours of January 1, leaving 27 people dead, including women and children.
Tunisian authorities rescued 83 survivors, 15 of whom were hospitalized, while search efforts for additional missing individuals continue.
The vessels were found approximately 5 kilometers from the Kerkennah Islands; one had capsized, and the other sank for reasons yet to be determined.
The Mediterranean continues to be a deadly migration route, with over 2,200 migrant deaths reported in 2024, including hundreds of children, according to UNICEF.
Tunisia, alongside Libya, remains a key departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with worsening economic and political conditions driving emigration.