13 Migrant Bodies Found Off Tunisia’s Coast

Thirteen bodies, believed to belong to sub-Saharan African migrants, were discovered off Tunisia’s eastern coast, Arab News reported yesterday.

The grim find occurred near the coastal towns of Salakta and Chebba over Tuesday and Wednesday. Farid Ben Jha, spokesman for the public prosecution in the Monastir and Mahdia governorates, confirmed that an investigation is underway but did not provide additional details.

Tunisia and neighboring Libya have become critical departure points for migrants seeking better lives in Europe, often risking dangerous Mediterranean crossings. Since the beginning of the year, at least 103 makeshift boats have capsized, resulting in the recovery of 341 bodies off Tunisia’s coast, as reported by the interior ministry. Last year, over 1,300 individuals died or went missing in similar incidents. The International Organization for Migration has documented more than 30,309 migrant deaths in the Mediterranean over the past decade, with over 3,000 fatalities recorded last year alone.