Security officials in Tunisia say a boat carrying migrants hoping to reach Italy capsized overnight on Sunday.
One person was killed in the accident, a security source in the country was reported by the AFP to have said.
The boat was transporting young Tunisians from southern area of Zarzis. Local officials say the boat which was in a bad condition stayed on sea for about 21 hours.
Due to the poor state of the boat, local security officials said it capsized near an island called Djerba.
Tunisia’s National Guard spokesman Houssemeddine Jebabli is reported by the AFP to have said that his unit responded to the alarm from fishermen.
The body of the migrant who died in the accident was recovered. Officials rescued seven people but two others people fled.
A search has now been mounted for two suspects who fled. They are believed to be the boat captain and organizers of the trip.
Many young Africans continue to use routes within the North African region to reach Europe.
Tunisia is one of those countries witnessing a mass exodus of its young people to Europe due to the economic crisis in the country.
Human traffickers are also reportedly taking advantage of migrants duping them and subjecting them to inhumane conditions.
Source: Africafeeds.com
