The Tunisian coastguard has recovered the bodies of nine migrants after a boat carrying at least 42 people sank off the coast of Chebba due to severe weather.
Six individuals remain missing, while 27 survivors have been rescued, according to a judicial official.
Judge Farid Ben Jha stated that search efforts are ongoing to locate the missing migrants, all of whom hailed from sub-Saharan African countries. Survivors reported that the boat took on water and broke down during the journey.
Tunisia is currently facing a severe migration crisis, emerging as a leading departure point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and Tunisians seeking to reach Europe, overtaking Libya in recent years.
The tragedy underscores the growing risks associated with migrant crossings in the Mediterranean.
