At least 37 migrants are missing after a boat capsized off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, according to UN reports.
The boat, carrying 46 migrants primarily from Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, overturned amid high winds and turbulent waves on Thursday.
UN refugee agency representative to Italy Chiara Cardoletti confirmed that among the missing are two children, one of them a newborn.
The survivors, all adult men, were rescued and taken to either Lampedusa or Tunisia.
Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesman for the International Organisation for Migration, indicated the boat had originated from Sfax, Tunisia.
Mr Di Giacomo said there has been a noticeable increase in migrants from sub-Saharan Africa arriving via the Tunisian route since November.
He attributes this trend to migrants seeking to escape discrimination in Tunisia.
The survivors reported to the IOM that their boat had capsized in harsh winds, leading to the current belief that 37 people are missing and feared dead.
The UNHCR earlier stated that about 40 people were missing, highlighting some inconsistency in the reported figures.
Regardless of the exact number, the incident underlines a significant surge in migration from Tunisia across the Mediterranean, particularly after Tunisia's crackdown on illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and reports of racist attacks amid an economic downturn.
The island of Lampedusa to the south of Italy is a principal entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean.
More than 46,000 people arrived there last year, for a total of 105,000 in Italy as per UNHCR data.
The latest incident occurred alongside another last Thursday when three boats sank off Tunisia, with at least 12 migrants missing and three confirmed dead.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
RESULTS
ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6
WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
J Ostapenko (LAT x9) bt S Cirstea (ROU)
6-4, 6-4
ATP Japan Open
D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
6-2, 6-0
More on Quran memorisation:
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
