RismadarVoice Reporters, August 24, 2026
At least 12 migrants have died after a boat carrying 15 people sank off the southeastern coast of Tunisia, the country’s National Guard said.
According to information gathered, the boat sank about 14 nautical miles off Zarzis on Friday night. Only one person was rescued, while two others remain missing as search operations continue.
Reports from the National Guard said three bodies were recovered on Saturday, followed by nine more on Sunday, bringing the confirmed death toll to 12.
The tragedy sparked protests in Ben Guerdane, a city near Tunisia’s border with Libya, where 14 of the migrants reportedly came from. Demonstrators blocked roads and set tyres on fire following the incident.
Tunisia, located about 145 kilometres from Italy’s Lampedusa island, remains a major departure point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
The central Mediterranean route is considered the world’s deadliest migration route. The International Organisation for Migration has reported that at least 914 migrants have died or gone missing along the route in 2026.
