Tunisian coast guard recovers up to 11 bodies after migrant boat capsizes off Zarzis

Shipwreck off the coast of Zarzis

A boat carrying 15 Tunisian migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea during the night between Friday and Saturday off the coast of Zarzis, in southern Tunisia. The vessel had set out from the southern Tunisian coast with the intention of crossing the Mediterranean toward Italy. Maritime emergency services located and pulled one survivor from the water shortly after the vessel overturned off Zarzis. Tunisian authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations across the surrounding maritime zone to account for the remaining 14 passengers.

Search operations and casualty counts

The Tunisian National Guard and maritime rescue teams conducted search operations in the waters off Zarzis with the operational support of two helicopters. On Sunday, 23 August 2026, Tunisian officials announced that rescue teams had retrieved eight bodies from the sea, while six individuals remained missing. A spokesperson for the Tunisian coast guard confirmed the recovery of the eight victims to Reuters as operations continued. In a public statement issued on Sunday, the Tunisian National Guard outlined the sequence of recoveries across the weekend.

Search operations made it possible to recover three bodies yesterday and five today.

Later reports on Sunday revised the toll upward, confirming that search crews had recovered 11 bodies from the water, leaving three people missing out of the 15 passengers. Maritime units and aerial crews continue to survey the coastline and surrounding waters to trace the remaining missing individuals.

Demonstrations in Ben Guerdane

Fourteen of the fifteen passengers on board the capsized vessel came from Ben Guerdane, an economically marginalized town located in southeastern Tunisia near the border with Libya. News of the boat sinking reached the municipality on Saturday, prompting immediate public reactions across the area. Residents gathered in the streets on Saturday evening to demonstrate after the announcement of the shipwreck. Protesters blocked transport arteries throughout the town and burned tires to register their anger over the casualties and local socio-economic conditions.

Central Mediterranean migration corridor

The Tunisian coastline lies approximately 145 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa, making the North African nation a key departure point for migrants attempting the sea journey to Europe. The International Organization for Migration designates the Central Mediterranean as the deadliest migration route in the world.

Earlier in August, the International Organization for Migration reported that migrant deaths on the Central Mediterranean route more than doubled during the first four months of 2026 in comparison to the same period in 2025. The organisation recorded that at least 914 migrants have died or gone missing along this crossing in 2026. These maritime attempts continue despite an agreement between Tunisia and European partners valued at more than 250 million euros.