At least 13 Tunisian nationals are missing after a migrant boat capsized off Tunisia's southeastern coast while heading for Italy. Two survivors were pulled from the water, one of whom remains in critical condition, according to the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights.
The vessel departed the El Ketef area near the Libyan border around midnight between Wednesday and Thursday with approximately 15 people aboard and sank roughly six hours later. Search operations continue in waters off the coast.
The incident comes amid scrutiny of a 2023 European Union agreement with Tunisia to curb migration, which 46 rights groups have criticized. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other organizations voiced concern in a July statement. The International Organization for Migration estimates more than 35,000 people have gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014.