TUNIS, Tunisia / ISTANBUL

At least 40 African migrants, including infants, drowned on Wednesday while attempting to illegally reach Europe from Tunisia’s eastern coast, local authorities reported.

A vessel carrying approximately 70 sub-Saharan African migrants sank off Salakta in the Mahdia governorate early Wednesday, Tunisian private radio station Mosaique FM said.

Forty people died in the incident, while 30 were rescued by the Tunisian coast guard, the radio quoted Walid Chtiri, spokesperson for the Mahdia Primary Court, as saying.

The prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the tragedy, Chtiri added.

Tunisian authorities regularly report intercepting illegal migration attempts and rescuing hundreds of migrants from Tunisia and other African countries who attempt to reach Europe due to economic and political crises at home.

Tunisia faces growing pressure from the EU to enhance coastal monitoring and prevent migrant boats from departing.

In September 2023, the European Commission pledged €127 million in aid to Tunisia under a memorandum of understanding addressing, among other issues, the reduction of irregular migration to Europe.