Earlier that day, a human rights group reported that at least 19 refugees and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa had drowned off the coast of Tunisia while attempting to cross the Mediterranean and reach Italy. The deaths occurred when a boat carrying the refugees and migrants sank off the coast of Mahdia, and the Tunisian coast guard was able to rescue only five people from the boat.
Tunisian authorities were not immediately available for comment. Meanwhile, Italy's ANSA news agency has reported that over 2,000 asylum seekers arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa within 24 hours, which is considered a "record". In the last four days, at least five boats carrying refugees and migrants have sunk off the southern city of Sfax, with 67 missing and nine dead.
The coast guard has detained over 3,000 people in the past four days, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, after stopping around 80 boats heading for Italy. The coast near Sfax has become a major departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in search of a better life in Europe. Tunisian authorities have been conducting a campaign of arrests against undocumented sub-Saharan Africans. United Nations data show that at least 12,000 people who arrived in Italy this year set sail from Tunisia, compared to 1,300 in the same period last year. Previously, Libya was the main departure point for refugees and migrants.
