Search operations are continuing off Tunisia’s southeastern coast for two migrants still missing after a boat carrying 15 people sank en route to Italy, killing 12 and leaving one survivor.
Volunteers from the nearby city of Zarzis joined the search on Monday, taking fishing boats to sea as authorities continued efforts to locate the missing passengers. Tunisia’s National Guard said 12 bodies had been recovered, while one survivor was rescued after reportedly spending about 48 hours at sea.
The vessel sank late Friday about 14 nautical miles, or 26 kilometres, off Zarzis after departing from an area between Zarzis and Ben Guerdane. Fourteen of those aboard were from Ben Guerdane, while the remaining passenger was from Zarzis.
The tragedy has triggered anger in Ben Guerdane, where residents staged protests over the weekend. Demonstrators burned tyres and blocked roads, while security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Protesters blamed years of economic hardship and marginalisation for pushing young people to undertake dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean in search of opportunities in Europe.
The disaster has also raised concerns over the number of victims. A hospital in Ben Guerdane reportedly received 19 migrant bodies recovered from the sea over two days, although authorities are yet to establish whether all the bodies were from the same vessel. Genetic testing is being conducted to identify the victims and determine the exact number of people who were aboard.
Reports indicate that seven members of one family were among the passengers, deepening the grief in the affected community. The incident has prompted calls for a national day of mourning and renewed scrutiny of the conditions driving Tunisians to attempt irregular migration.
Tunisia’s southeastern coastline is a major departure point for people attempting to reach Europe, with the Italian island of Lampedusa roughly 145 kilometres away. The central Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, with hundreds of migrants dying or disappearing while attempting the crossing each year.
The latest sinking has also revived memories of previous tragedies off Tunisia’s coast, including the 2022 Zarzis disaster that triggered weeks of protests.
As the search for the two missing passengers continues, the incident has once again placed Tunisia’s economic difficulties and the risks of irregular migration across the Mediterranean under renewed focus.
