Tragedy off the coast of Tunisia: A migrant boat sinking claims the lives of 40 people, including infants

The Tunisian coast witnessed a tragic incident early Wednesday after a boat carrying about 70 irregular migrants sank, resulting in the death of 40 people, including infants, and the rescue of 30 others, according to local judicial sources.

Walid Shatbari, spokesperson for the Mahdia Court, explained that the iron boat was carrying migrants from sub-Saharan African countries in an attempt to reach Europe by sea, before the journey turned into a humanitarian disaster.

The public prosecutor in Mahdia has opened a criminal investigation to uncover the circumstances of the incident, amid suspicions related to the formation of an organized smuggling network aimed at facilitating illegal maritime border crossings, in addition to the possibility of human trafficking elements being involved.

The incident brings to the forefront the dangers faced by migrants on their sea journeys, especially amid the increasing pace of irregular migration across the Mediterranean and the worsening humanitarian conditions in the countries of origin.