TUNIS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from an illegal migrant boat sinking off the coast of southeastern Tunisia has risen to 11 after maritime authorities recovered eight more bodies on Sunday, according to a statement released by the General Directorate of the National Guard.
Search and rescue operations are continuing off the coast of Zarzis in the province of Medenine to locate the missing, the statement said.
The incident occurred late Friday night after the Zarzis Maritime Center received distress alerts concerning a vessel carrying more than 15 irregular migrants, including a pregnant woman.
According to preliminary reports and survivors, the boat was heading toward the Italian coast when it suffered an engine failure and subsequently capsized near the El Jdaria area.
Two survivors were rescued shortly after the capsizing, with one transferred to Zarzis Regional Hospital in critical condition.
Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe.
