More than 60 migrants have died after their boat capsized in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tunisia Thursday (May 9) night. Most of them were Bangladeshis.
Various international media on Saturday (May 11) published the news citing humanitarian organization Red Crescent.
Survivors told Tunisian Red Crescent that 75 migrants left Libyan coast for Italy by a large boat.
They got plunged into water when they were shifted to a small boat that sank.
Tunisian fishermen rescued 16 of the victims and took to Zarzis city coast Saturday morning. 14 of them are Bangladeshis.
The survivors said that they were floating in cold water of the sea for around eight hours.
Bangladesh Ambassador in Tripoli Sheikh Sekander Ali acknowledged the incident and said contact is on with Tunisia authorities.
As the survivors stated, the sunken boat carried some 51 Bangladeshis whereas the others were from Egypt, Morocco, Africa and other countries.
Thousands of migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean to Europe every year, and Libya is a key departure point.
About 164 people died on the route between Libya and Europe in the first four months of 2019, UNHCR figures show.
