TUNIS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 58 illegal migrants have gone missing off the Tunisian coasts in the past 20 days as they sought to traverse the Mediterranean Sea towards Italy, the private radio station Mosaique FM reported on Thursday.
"During the same period, the number of illegal immigrants arriving in Italy via the Tunisian coasts reached 447, almost the same number as in February," Mosaique FM quoted Islam Gharbi, member of the non-governmental Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, as saying.
According to Gharbi, 1,285 illegal immigrants were arrested by the Tunisian authorities during this period, the majority of whom were from sub-Saharan African countries.
Tunisia is one of the main departure points for migrants seeking irregular entry into Europe. In 2023, some 17,322 illegal migrants arrived at Italian shores via the Tunisian coasts. ■
