Authorities report that a minimum of 23 individuals are missing off the coast of Tunisia | Migration News

At least 23 people are missing off the Tunisian coast, sparking a search and rescue operation by local authorities. The Tunisian National Guard has reported that they were alerted to “unauthorised sailing operations” from various areas along the coast, leading to the arrest of five suspects involved in organizing the crossings.

Families of the missing individuals have reached out to the authorities after losing contact with their loved ones, although the nationality of the missing people has not been disclosed. The vessel in question reportedly departed from the town of Korba in the northeastern Nabeul governorate.

Tunisia and neighboring Libya are known as key departure points for those attempting to make the dangerous journey by boat to Europe. Migrants from various parts of the world, particularly from impoverished and conflict-ridden areas of sub-Saharan Africa, often arrive on Tunisia’s shores in search of a better life.

The unemployment rate in Tunisia, which stood at over 16 percent as of 2023, has driven many Tunisians to seek opportunities in Europe. In fact, around 17,000 irregular Tunisian arrivals landed in Italy in 2023, with a significant number originating from working-class areas like Sfax.

The central Mediterranean Sea remains one of the deadliest migration routes in the world, with approximately 3,000 migrants and asylum seekers reported to have drowned while attempting to cross it since 2023. The actual number of casualties is believed to be much higher.

In the first 11 months of 2023, Tunisia’s National Guard intercepted nearly 70,000 irregular migrants and asylum seekers, the majority of whom had traveled to Tunisia from various African countries. The ongoing search and rescue operations highlight the dangers faced by those attempting to reach Europe by sea.