TUNIS, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian maritime guard units rescued 14 fishermen whose boat caught fire off the coastal province of Monastir in the east of the country, reported the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) on Sunday.
"The incident was first brought to attention when the control tower at the port of Sousse received Friday a distress signal about a fire that broke out in a fishing boat, with 14 fishermen on board, 33 nautical miles from the port of Monastir, in international waters," said the TAP.
Two naval units belonging to the maritime guard of Monastir were immediately dispatched to provide aid and assistance, extinguish the fire with the help of a group of fishermen who were near the scene of the incident, evacuate the entire crew of the damaged boat, and take them to the fishing port of Teboulba in Monastir province.
The fishermen were promptly transported to a local hospital for medical treatment after being rescued.
The public prosecutor at the Monastir Court has launched an investigation into the incident, the TAP said.
