Tunisian Hospital Receives 19 Bodies After Boat Sinks

Hospital officials in Ben Guerdane received at least 19 bodies recovered from the Mediterranean over two days following a weekend migrant shipwreck.

The sinking of the boat—which carried seven members of a single family—ignited grief and street protests on Sunday night, with residents burning tyres and blocking roads before police used tear gas to disperse crowds.

Protesters demand economic development and better living conditions, arguing that marginalisation and a lack of opportunities push local youth to undertake dangerous sea crossings toward Europe.

Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights head Mostafa Abdelkebir stated that officials are conducting genetic testing to identify the bodies and determine how many were aboard the vessel. At the same time, search teams look for missing passengers.

Activists reported that the boat departed early Thursday with “at least 15 people” aboard, mostly young residents of Ben Guerdane.

A single survivor reported drifting for 48 hours before a commercial vessel rescued him.

The tragedy underscores the economic hardship driving departures from Tunisia, particularly near the Libyan border, where the months-long closure of a vital crossing has severely damaged cross-border trade.