70 African migrants drown off Tunisian coast

TUNIS

Seventy African migrants were killed after their boat sank off the Tunisian coast on Friday, according to local news reports.

"At least 70 African migrants have drowned off the coast of Tunisia’s Sfax province," the Tunisian Press Agency reported.

Sixteen others were rescued, the news agency said, adding that the ill-fated vessel had likely set out from neighboring Libya.

No more details have been disclosed, but rescue efforts reportedly remain underway amid expectations that the death toll will rise further.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat