Boat crew taking part in a search and rescue operation to aid migrants in the Mediterranean. AFP
Boat crew taking part in a search and rescue operation to aid migrants in the Mediterranean. AFP
Boat crew taking part in a search and rescue operation to aid migrants in the Mediterranean. AFP
Boat crew taking part in a search and rescue operation to aid migrants in the Mediterranean. AFP

Six migrants drown off Tunisia with 30 still missing


Neil Murphy
  • English
  • Arabic

Six migrants drowned and 30 were reported missing off the coast of Tunisia on Thursday after their boat sank during a bid to reach Europe, authorities and the Red Crescent said.

Coastguard units rescued 34 passengers after the vessel sank off Zarzis near the Libyan border, Tunisian Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammed Zekri said.

Survivors said 70 people had been aboard, including Egyptians, Sudanese and a Moroccan, when the boat set off from Libya towards European shores.

A search and rescue operation is under way for the remaining passengers, Mr Zekri said.

The survivors were taken to a port in Ben Guerdane, Tunisian Red Crescent official Mongi Slim reported.

Both Tunisia and Libya have been serving as launch pads for migrants looking to reach Europe, especially in the chaos following the toppling of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.

The central Mediterranean route has become the world's deadliest migration trail, humanitarian groups say.

Departures surged rapidly in 2021, with almost 55,000 migrants reaching Italy in the first 10 months of the year compared with fewer than 30,000 the previous year, the Italian government said.

The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights says that over the first three quarters of last year, the coastguard intercepted 19,500 migrants during crossing attempts.

The UN refugee agency says at least 1,300 migrants have disappeared or drowned over the same period.

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ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

What to watch out for:

Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways

The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof

The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history

Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure

Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Updated: January 27, 2022, 7:25 PM