A major maritime tragedy has struck off the coast of Tunisia where at least 40 migrants, including children and infants, lost their lives after their boat sank near the port city of Mahdia. Authorities confirmed that all those on board were from sub-Saharan Africa.
The vessel, which was reportedly carrying about 70 migrants, capsized in the early hours of Wednesday while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe. Tunisian officials said strong waves and overloading may have caused the disaster.
Rescue teams managed to save about 30 people from the water, but dozens more remain missing and are feared dead. The survivors were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment and questioning.
Local authorities in Mahdia said search and recovery operations are continuing, but rough seas are hampering rescue efforts. “We have recovered 40 bodies so far, including several children and women,” a Tunisian security source told The Africa Standard.
Witnesses described the scene as horrific, with cries for help echoing across the waves as the boat capsized within minutes of leaving shore. Some survivors reportedly clung to debris until they were rescued by fishermen and the Tunisian Coast Guard.
This latest disaster highlights the growing dangers faced by migrants fleeing poverty, war, and instability across Africa in hopes of reaching Europe. Many make the perilous journey through Libya or Tunisia, paying smugglers thousands of dollars to cross the Mediterranean.
According to the United Nations, more than 210,000 people attempted the central Mediterranean crossing in 2023 alone. Nearly 2,000 migrants lost their lives during the same period, making it one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.
Tunisian authorities have launched a formal investigation into the causes of Wednesday’s tragedy and the possible involvement of human smuggling networks. Officials say preliminary findings indicate that the vessel was unseaworthy and severely overcrowded.
Mahdia residents told The Africa Standard that such incidents have become increasingly frequent. “We see boats leaving at night almost every week,” said one local fisherman. “Sometimes they never come back.”
The Tunisian government continues to face growing international pressure to stem the tide of irregular migration. Many migrants use Tunisia as a launching point after traveling through neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, and Sudan.
In February last year, another boat sank off the coastal city of Sfax, killing more than 40 Sudanese migrants. Several similar incidents have been reported this year, underlining the mounting humanitarian crisis unfolding along North Africa’s coastline.
Tunisia signed a $118 million agreement with the European Union in 2023 to combat human smuggling, strengthen border security, and facilitate the return of intercepted migrants. Despite the deal, crossings have continued, driven by worsening economic and political instability across the region.
Critics say that European migration policies have forced migrants into even more dangerous routes. Rights groups have accused both European and North African authorities of turning a blind eye to abuses committed against migrants.
“The sea has become a graveyard,” said a spokesperson for a local humanitarian organization. “People are dying every week, and the world has become desensitized to their suffering.”
Tunisia’s coastal cities, including Sfax, Mahdia, and Monastir, have become major departure points for migrants seeking to reach Italy’s Lampedusa Island. The route is short but extremely risky due to strong currents and poorly maintained vessels.
Fishermen in Mahdia say they often find bodies floating near the coast. Many are buried in unmarked graves as authorities struggle to identify them. “We bury them because someone has to,” said one volunteer.
Survivors of this week’s disaster told The Africa Standard that the group had paid smugglers between $1,500 and $2,000 each to secure passage to Europe. They said they were told the trip would take less than 10 hours.
However, within two hours of departure, the boat began to take on water. Panic spread as migrants scrambled to stay afloat. “People were screaming, praying, holding their children,” one survivor said. “Then the boat broke apart.”
Rescue teams recovered several small children from the wreckage, including two infants. Their identities remain unknown, but authorities are appealing for relatives to come forward.
International organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), have expressed condolences and urged stronger cooperation between European and African governments to prevent further loss of life.
IOM spokesperson Rana Haddad told The Africa Standard that “these tragedies will continue unless safe and legal migration routes are established.”
In recent months, Tunisia has also faced growing criticism over reports of migrants being stranded in desert border regions after being expelled from the country. Human rights groups say such practices violate international law.
As the search for bodies continues, grief is spreading across migrant communities in Tunisia. Many fear for relatives who remain unaccounted for, and rescue workers brace for the possibility that more bodies will wash ashore in the coming days.
Wednesday’s sinking is among the deadliest incidents off Tunisia’s coast this year, underscoring the continuing human cost of migration fueled by desperation and limited alternatives.
