An official of a local rights group reported that at least five African migrants were killed and another 33 were missing after a boat capsized off Tunisia as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Italy.

The five migrants who were saved by the coast guard from the boat that capsized off the shore of the southern city of Sfax were in poor psychological health, according to Romadan Ben Omar, an official with the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights.

It is worth noting that the coastline of Sfax is considered a major departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and West Asia hoping for a better life in Europe.

The tragedy occurs as there are increasingly more boats carrying migrants from Tunisia on their way to Italy.

Unofficial data from the UN shows that 12,000 of those who have arrived in Italy this year have come from Tunisia, compared to 1,300 during the same time period in 2022. Prior to now, Libya served as the primary departure point for migrants from the area.

Meanwhile, Italy's new government under the far-right leader Georgia Meloni has lately approved a rule to fine charities who save migrants at sea and impound their ships if they breach the new set of rules.

Last December, Meloni refused to allow a Norwegian-flagged NGO ship with 234 migrants on board rescued from the Mediterranean to dock.

Handling immigration in the European Union has caused tensions for years. Italy and Spain have long said EU allies must take on more migrants arriving on their shores.

In November, the issue led to a diplomatic row between France and Italy after the latter refused to let a charity boat carrying around 200 migrants dock in its ports, and the ship eventually sailed to France.