The coastguard has rescued 17 others, two of whom are in critical condition, said Sfax court judge Faouzi Masmousdi.
At least 20 people are missing after a boat attempting to cross the Mediterranean sank off the coast of Tunisia, an official said amid a surge in the number of refugees trying to reach Europe by boat from the North African country .
The coastguard has rescued 17 others, two of whom are in critical condition, after the boat sank off the coast of Sfax, Sfax court judge Faouzi Masmousdi said on Saturday.
In recent weeks, dozens have gone missing or died in various drowning accidents off the Tunisian coast.
Tunisia has replaced Libya as a major departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in hopes of a better life in Europe.
Tunisia’s National Guard said on Friday that more than 14,000 refugees, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted or rescued while trying to enter Europe in the first three months of the year, five times more than in the same period last year. .
“Coast Guard patrols prevented 501 clandestine attempts to cross the maritime border and rescued 14,406 (refugees), including 13,138 from sub-Saharan countries,” it said in a statement.
The vast majority of the interceptions took place off the coast of the provinces of Sfax and Mahdia, whose coasts lie just 150 km (90 mi) from the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that Europe risks seeing a huge wave of refugees arrive from North Africa if financial stability in Tunisia is not safeguarded.
Meloni called on the International Money Fund and other countries to help Tunisia quickly to avoid its collapse.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar said last week that the country needs money and equipment to better protect its borders. Tunisia had received equipment from Italy in recent years, but Ammar said it was outdated and inadequate.