Authorities in Tunisia have successfully rescued 64 migrants after their boat capsized off the country’s eastern Mediterranean coast. The incident occurred late Friday near the town of Mahdia when the boat, which had run out of fuel, overturned. Tunisia’s national customs agency confirmed no deaths were reported following the rescue operation.
The migrants, who hailed from various nationalities, were believed to have set sail from a neighboring country, likely Libya, before the boat capsized. They were brought to the port of Chebba, located 37 miles north of Sfax, for further investigation.
The central Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest migration routes. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 30,000 migrants left Libya for Italy in 2024, with 61% of those arriving by sea originating from Libya, while 32% came from Tunisia. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 100 migrants have died or gone missing off the coasts of Tunisia and Libya in 2025.
This rescue highlights the ongoing risks migrants face in the Mediterranean, often attempting perilous journeys in overcrowded and unsafe vessels.
Sources: Tunisia National Customs Agency, UNHCR, IOM
