Dozens of migrants died in a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa while trying to reach Europe
Forty-one migrants have died in a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa, the BBC reports, citing four survivors. According to them, the boat had left Sfax in Tunisia last week and sank en route to Italy. It had been hit by a large wave and only 15 people were wearing life jackets, they said.
The four survivors, originally from Ivory Coast and Guinea, arrived in Lampedusa on Wednesday. They added that they were rescued by a cargo ship and then transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel.
Tunisian authorities say Sfax, a port city about 130 km from Lampedusa, is popular with migrants seeking a better life in Europe.
In recent days, Italian patrol boats and charity groups have rescued another 2,000 people who arrived on Lampedusa.
Tunisia has seen a wave of racism against black Africans in recent months, and attempts to leave the country by boat have increased.
The United Nations has recorded more than 17,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014, making it the world's most dangerous migrant crossing.
Last month, the EU signed a $118m deal with Tunisia in a bid to curb "irregular" migration.
The money will be spent on efforts to stop smuggling, strengthen borders and return migrants.
Italy's far-right government has adopted a policy of forcing rescue ships to dock in more distant ports instead of letting them disembark migrants rescued in Lampedusa or Sicily.
More than 1,800 people have lost their lives this year in the crossing to reach Europe from North Africa.