Baby among two dead as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

At least two Tunisians including a baby died when their boat sank Saturday soon after leaving the country’s shores, the coastguard said, amid a spike in attempts to reach Europe.

Tunisia is a major gateway for migrants attempting perilous voyages across the Mediterranean in often rickety boats in the hopes of a better life. The vessel carrying 20 Tunisians went down at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) when it was only 120 metres (395 feet) from the coast in Gabes, the North African country’s coastguard said. “Two bodies have been recovered, one of a 20-year-old man and the other of an infant,” it said in a statement. Five passengers were missing, the coastguard said, adding search operations were ongoing and 13 others had been rescued. Authorities in the city of Gabes have launc…