At Least 40 African Migrants Dead in Shipwreck Off Tunisia Coast

At least 40 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa died after their boat sank off the coast of Tunisia near Mahdia, with about 30 survivors rescued, marking one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in the region this year. The migrants were attempting to reach Europe, highlighting the ongoing risks and pressures on North African countries managing irregular migration. Separately, off the coast of Italy near Lampedusa, multiple migrant boat incidents have resulted in several deaths and missing persons, including a capsized vessel carrying around 30 people with 11 rescued and at least 20 feared dead. Another two boats near Italy carrying over 100 people, including Pakistanis, Eritreans, and Somalis, have suffered sinkings resulting in confirmed deaths and many missing. These incidents underscore the continuing dangers migrants face crossing the Mediterranean, where over 32,000 have died since 2014, including more than 900 in 2025 alone. The tragedies have fueled protests and raised urgent calls for better management and rescue efforts in the region.