Tunisia says 82 migrants rescued
Tunisian authorities intercepted five new migration attempts overnight and rescued or intercepted 82 people, the interior ministry said yesterday.
National Guard units "from the north, centre, south and coast" of Tunisia foiled the attempts "as part of the fight against irregular migration", a statement said.
Tunisia is a key departure point for migrants hoping to reach Europe -- usually Italy -- and sea crossing attempts tend to increase during spring and summer.
Yesterday's statement said 76 people were rescued in four operations at sea, and another six were intercepted on land in the Gabes and Sfax areas.
It did not provide details the nationalities of the migrants.
The statement said that both Tunisian and foreign currency were seized, although the amounts were not specified. Media in the North African country reported a shipwreck on Tuesday off the Kerkennah islands in which eight Tunisians -- three women, four children and a man -- died. And on Sunday, the National Guard said that 170 people from sub-Saharan Africa were among 255 migrants intercepted during 17 attempted crossings.
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