The national guard reported on Thursday that the Tunisian coast guard had recovered the bodies 27 African migrants who were trying to cross the Mediterranean by two boats.

The boats went down in the waters near Sfax, which is a popular departure point for African migrants.

Tunisia’s coastguard recovered about 30 bodies in two separate incidents last month after their boat capsized while they were sailing to Europe.

The coast guard saved 87 people from the two boats that went down off Sfax, according to the national guard.

Tunisia has been hit by an unprecedented migration crisis. It is now the main departure point from Africa for Tunisians as well as people seeking to live in Europe. (Reporting and editing by Hugh Lawson; Tarek amara)

(source: Reuters)