At least 20 die, five rescued as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisia's coast guard has recovered the bodies of 20 migrants from Africa after the boat they were in sank off the coast, the national guard said on Wednesday, the second migrant drowning tragedy within one week off Tunisian coast.

Last Thursday, Tunisia coast guard has recovered also the bodies of nine migrants, while six others are still missing after their boat sank while they were sailing towards Europe.

The national guard said that coast guard on Wednesday rescued five others who were on the same boat and search operations were underway for anyone still missing.

The boat sank off the coast of Sfax city, a major departure point especially for African migrants.

Tunisia is grappling with an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as the major departure point for both Tunisians and people from elsewhere in Africa seeking a better life in Europe.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara;Editing by Alison Williams and Aurora Ellis)

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