Eight bodies recovered after migrant boat sinks off Zarzis, search continues for missing
Eight bodies were recovered on Saturday, August 22, 2026, following the sinking of a boat carrying approximately fifteen irregular migrants off the coast of Zarzis, according to Radio M茅denine. The death toll remains provisional as search operations continue for those still missing. Initial reports indicate the boat had about fifteen passengers, with one young man from Zarzis and the others believed to be from Ben Guerdane. Radio M茅denine reported that most of the eight victims found belonged to the same family from Ben Guerdane. The vessel sank approximately 14 nautical miles from Zarzis. One passenger was initially found alive and rescued by a commercial ship. Search efforts were intensified with naval and land forces of the National Guard, a helicopter from the maritime guard's air unit, and national army resources. Fishermen and boat owners from Zarzis and Djerba also joined the search after an alert was issued to the Zarzis maritime center. According to initial testimonies, including that of a survivor, the boat was heading towards the Italian coast when it broke down and subsequently sank with its passengers. The exact number of people on board remains uncertain and could be more than fifteen. All shipwreck victims reportedly wore life jackets, but adverse weather conditions are believed to have dispersed passengers away from the sinking point, complicating location and rescue efforts. Search operations are ongoing to find the remaining missing persons and establish the