At least 27 African migrants have died off the coast of Tunisia

African migrants trying to reach the European Union (EU), at least 27 people, died off the coast of Tunisia after two boats crashed. This was reported by Arab News on January 2.

Among the dead there are women and children. According to the media, 83 people were rescued. Specialists are still searching for other possible missing people.

Tunisia is called a key point of departure for illegal migrants seeking to enter the EU. In particular, the Italian island of Lampedusa is only 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Tunisia and is usually their first port of call, the newspaper said.

In November last year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the crash of a boat with migrants from different countries near the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean. As a result, at least 25 people were killed. The incident occurred on November 2, that day fishermen rescued five survivors, who said that the boat was carrying 30 people of different nationalities, including seven women and six small children.