Tunisian authorities announced on Wednesday the recovery of 20 bodies of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries following the sinking of their boat 13 nautical miles off the coast of Sfax.

According to an official statement, the Central Coast Guard’s naval units managed to rescue five survivors from the same boat. Search and rescue operations are still underway to locate the remaining missing passengers and respond to the tragic incident.

Tunisia serves as a major transit hub for thousands of migrants and asylum seekers, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, seeking to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. Many embark on perilous journeys from its shores toward European coasts in search of better opportunities.