Overview
- The boat left the Zarzis/Ben Guerdane area and, which set off early on Thursday, capsized while heading for Italy with about 15 people on board.
- Tunisian coast guard forces have recovered eight bodies and are continuing sea and air searches for six people who remain missing, officials said.
- One survivor was found adrift and rescued after reporting hours adrift; rights groups say some rescued people were in critical condition.
- Dozens of residents from the Ben Guerdane area staged protests demanding faster searches and police used tear gas to disperse crowds.
- Humanitarian groups have linked the tragedy to broader concerns over EU‑backed migration controls in Tunisia and noted the central Mediterranean route has caused tens of thousands of disappearances since 2014.