35 migrants die after boat sinks off Tunisian coast

The death toll of illegal immigrants killed in the boat sinking off southeast coast of Tunisia Sunday has increased to 35, according to Tunisian Ministry of Defense.

The number of rescued people so far amounted to 75, said Ali Ayadi, Regional Director of Health in Sfax province in southeast Tunisia.

At least 180 illegal immigrants were aboard the boat stranded off the island of Kerlennah in southeast coast of the country, including 80 African nationalities.

Kerkennah is known as one of the main illegal gateways to Europe from Tunisia. Since the beginning of this year, about 1,910 Tunisian migrants have reached Italy by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights said in a study that 9,329 Tunisians have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in 2017, with 34 percent being intercepted by the Tunisian maritime forces.