Dozens of migrants drown off Tunisian coast

In a separate incident, Spanish Maritime Rescue Services members carry ashore migrants rescued at sea in Motril, Granada, Spain, on Friday. On Sunday, dozens of migrants were killed while attempting to cross a similar route. Photo by Paquet/EPA-EFE

June 4 (UPI) — At least 46 people drowned off the coast of Tunisia while attempting to migrate to Europe, officials said Sunday.

The death toll was still growing as of Sunday afternoon. But at least 67 were rescued near the coast of Spain, The New York Times reported.

The incident occurred after a boat containing nearly 200 migrants sank off the Tunisian coast.

Not all people on board the ship have been accounted for.

“The coastguard and the navy continue their search with the support of a military plane,” Tunisia’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Missing Migrants Project, at least 660 people have died this year while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea between Africa and Europe.

That area is the deadliest region for migrants in the world. Of the 660 recorded deaths, 583 were from drowning or presumed drowning.

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