43 migrants disappeared due to the sinking of a ship – News

At least 43 people have disappeared after the sinking off the Tunisian coast of a ship bound for Europe carrying 127 migrants, the Red Crescent said today.

“A total of 84 migrants were rescued and 43 disappeared after the sinking of a ship carrying 127 migrants off Zarzis (south)Mongi Slim, the director of the humanitarian organization’s local office, told AFP news agency.

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The boat left for the Libyan coast, according to testimonies from survivors collected by the NGO.

A statement from the Tunisian Defense Ministry said the Navy had rescued “84 illegal immigrants of different nationalities” such as Bangladesh, Sudan, Eritrea, Egypt or Chad overnight from Friday to Saturday.

The people rescued are between three and 40 years old and were aboard a ship that sank off Zarzis, he added.

According to the testimonies of the survivors, the ship set sail from the coast of Zuara (north-west of Libya) “on the night of June 28 to 29” with the aim of reaching Europe.

In April, at least 41 migrants died in those same waters when their boat capsized, which was also bound for European territory.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 550 people they have died in the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year.