The number of victims of the sinking boat carrying the illegal migrants, that was heading to Italy on Saturday evening, June 2, from Kerkennah Islands raised to 48 victims. In fact, 68 people were rescued, yesterday, among about 180 migrants, who were aboard on a boat, which capacity is no more than 40 people, according to the survivors’ testimony.
Some security sources stated that the bad weather conditions and sudden wind resulted in the boat’s capsize on the island's coastline. The Marine forces, National Guard and Civil Protection agents were able to identify 12 people from African countries, half of them are women, until yesterday morning.
According to the Tunisian media, 24 victims of the illegal migrants' boat were handed over to their families after the completion of the forensic procedures and identification.
A number of survivors reported to the media that they discovered that the water was leaking to the boat after 5 hours of sailing, so they asked the captain, of the boat to stop and return to the shore. However, the boat suddenly turned upside down, according to some testimonies.
Other testimonies have revealed that the captain of the boat has deliberately drowned the boat, when some people contacted the Tunisian authorities.
The various testimonies confirmed that the rescue teams of the authorities arrived after about 4 or 5 hours after the capsize of the boat, after that dozens of them fought death, but their attempts failed and drowned, while others managed to escape.
This catastrophe comes amid a political crisis experienced by the country and a difficult economic and social situation which resulted in the increase of unemployment rates, especially among graduates, coupled with the rising of poverty and marginalization.
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