The Tunisian National Guard reported that it was alerted by four migrants who managed to swim back to shore.

At least 12 Tunisians, including three children, were found dead after a migrant boat capsized off the southeastern coast of Djerba island on Monday, according to a judicial official. The boat sank at dawn, and 29 people were rescued, as reported by Medenine court spokesman Fethi Baccouche. Among the deceased were five men and four women, while the cause of the accident remains unknown.

The Tunisian National Guard reported being alerted by four migrants who managed to swim back to shore. Tunisia, along with neighboring Libya, is frequently a departure point for migrants seeking better lives in Europe, often undertaking perilous journeys across the Mediterranean.

The ongoing exodus is driven by Tunisia’s struggling economy, which recorded only 0.4 percent growth in 2023, coupled with rising unemployment. Every year, tens of thousands of people attempt the crossing to Italy, with Lampedusa, located just 150 kilometers (90 miles) away, being a common first destination.

Since January 1, the Tunisian government reports that at least 103 makeshift boats have capsized, leading to the recovery of 341 bodies from the country’s coastline. Last year, the FTDES rights group recorded over 1,300 deaths or disappearances in shipwrecks off Tunisia.

The International Organization for Migration reports that more than 30,309 migrants have died in the Mediterranean over the past decade, with over 3,000 fatalities recorded just last year.