Tunisia confirms that at least 20 migrants have been found dead since a ship sank off the city of Sfax. The search continued late on Wednesday evening for additional persons.
Five of those on board were able to be rescued, according to Tunisia's coastguard.
The migrants came from countries south of the Sahara, according to a statement from Tunisian authorities. The ship left a port in the city of Chebba late on Tuesday evening, but sank about two miles from the coast.
Sfax, about seven miles south of Chebba, is considered to have become a new gathering place and port for migrants trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. On December 9, nine migrants drowned and six more were reported missing off the coast of Sfax.
The Italian island of Lampedusa, about 15 miles from Tunisia, is often the target for migrants who in most cases lack documents for entry into an EU country.
