Tunisian coast guard have managed to rescue 44 people from drowning off the coast of Chebba city, East Tunisia, interior ministry said Wednesday.
The rescued, 38 Syrians, three Algerians and three Tunisians, were on their way towards Italian coasts before their boat encountered a defect, spokesman of Tunisian interior ministry said in a statement, adding that the rescued were in various critical conditions.
They were taken to Chebba seaport for medical treatment before being interrogated by Tunisian authorities, the spokesman noted, indicating that they were attempting to illegally migrate to Italy.