At least 43 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean after a shipwreck near Tunisia. 84 people have been rescued, a Tunisian aid organization says.
The migrants were believed to have been en route from Libya to the Italian island of Lampedusa, and came from Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Bangladesh. The cause of the shipwreck is unknown.
The European Border and Coast Guard Frontex said last week saw an increase in the number of people trying to enter the European Union illegally. Near Libya, people have been drowning more recently. Due to the favorable weather, migrants try to cross the sea.
The route from North Africa across the Mediterranean is particularly popular with migrants from Tunisia and Bangladesh, the EU agency said. Italy is the most popular country to enter the EU.
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