The Tunisian coast guard recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast from the start of the year. The country has become a major gateway for irregular migrants and asylum-seekers headed to Europe.
More than 900 migrants have drowned off Tunisia's coast so far this year, the country's Interior minister, Kamel Feki, said on Wednesday.
The North African country is experiencing an influx of migrants who are attempting to escape poverty by making their way to Europe.
Feki told parliament that from January 1 to July 20 this year, 901 bodies had been recovered from maritime incidents in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the National Guard spokesperson Houcem Eddine Jebabli, more than 34,000 people had been rescued in several operations.
It is said that most of the boats carrying migrants depart from the southern city of Sfax with the goal of setting off for Europe.
The Italian government earlier said that more than 80,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean to arrive on its shore this year.
Most of them are from Tunisia and Libya, it said.
