41 migrants have drowned off the coast of Tunisia, including at least one child

Sub-Saharan migrants drowned on Thursday on the Sfax coast of the Tunisian city.

“According to local UNHCR and IOM teams, the Tunisian National Coast Guard has rescued three survivors,” the two organizations said in a joint statement.

“So far, the bodies of 41 people have been found, including at least one child,” the statement said.

Tunisian coast guard spokesman Ali al Ajari had previously said the bodies of 11 men, eight women and one child had been found, three more had been rescued and 17 had been missing.

He added that the search operation has been suspended due to bad weather, but it will continue on Saturday.

On illegal migration routes, Tunisia has become an important transit country from which to continue the journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.

At least 39 migrants lost their lives in a crash on the Sfax coast last month.

At least 60 people died when a migrant boat crashed near Sfax in June last year.