A rescue operation is underway off the coast of southern Tunisia after a boat carrying approximately 15 migrants capsized, leaving at least two people dead and 12 others missing.
The vessel had departed early Thursday from an area between the coastal cities of Zarzis and Ben Guerdane, reportedly bound for Italy. On Saturday, a commercial vessel spotted and rescued the sole known survivor, who was wearing a life jacket. Following the rescue, Tunisian authorities deployed a helicopter and coast guard vessels to search the area for any additional survivors.
Houssem Eddine Jebabli, a spokesperson for Tunisia's national guard, detailed the incident to state news agency TAP and national radio Mosaique FM. Jebabli confirmed that search teams recovered two bodies, which were subsequently transported to a hospital on the neighboring island of Djerba.
Zarzis has historically served as a major transit point for both Tunisians and individuals from other African nations attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe. Despite an overall decline in migration numbers, dangerous voyages continue to depart from Tunisia's southern shores. Families in the region, particularly in Zarzis, have spent years searching for relatives who went missing at sea.
The area is no stranger to such tragedies. In 2022, the disappearance of a boat carrying 18 people triggered weeks of local protests. Demonstrators accused Tunisian authorities of failing to conduct adequate search operations and burying recovered bodies without identifying them or notifying their families.
Additionally, international rights organizations have expressed mounting concern over the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia following a cooperation agreement with the European Union. These groups have documented reports of abuses, including collective expulsions, arbitrary detentions, racial violence, and mistreatment targeting Black migrants.
A helicopter and coast guard boats were then dispatched to the area in search of more survivors, according to an Associated Press photojournalist at the scene. The migrants were believed to be headed toward Italy.
