Tunisia migrant boat tragedy sparks clashes as death toll rises to 11

Dubai: Violent protests erupted in Tunisia’s southeastern city of Ben Guerdane after a migrant boat sank while heading towards Italy, as anger over the tragedy and frustration over economic conditions spilled into clashes with security forces.

Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads on Sunday night, while police fired tear gas to disperse crowds. Demonstrators demanded faster search efforts as well as better living conditions and economic development in the marginalised border region.

The casualty figures have risen sharply since the initial reports of eight bodies being recovered. Tunisia’s coastguard said on Sunday that 11 bodies had been recovered from the boat, which left early on Thursday carrying 15 mostly young Tunisians. One survivor was rescued after spending about 48 hours at sea, while three remained missing.

By Monday, however, a hospital in Ben Guerdane had received at least 19 bodies recovered from the sea over two days, according to Mostafa Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights. It was not immediately clear whether all were from the same boat. DNA tests were being carried out to establish their identities.

Seven members of one family were among those aboard the vessel, as well as a man and his pregnant wife.

Coastguard, military and civil protection teams, supported by helicopters, have been involved in search operations.

Tunisia has long been a departure point for migrants attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe, although departures have fallen sharply following tighter maritime controls backed by European funding