Tunis: Tunisian authorities said Sunday that the bodies of 11 irregular migrants had been recovered after their boat sank off the coast of the town of Ben Gardane in the country's southeast.

According to Anadolu Agency, Houssem Eddine Jebabli, a spokesperson for the National Guard Directorate-General, informed the state news agency TAP that search and rescue operations were continuing after the boat carrying 15 Tunisian migrants capsized. He stated that three bodies were recovered Saturday and eight others Sunday, while efforts continued to locate the remaining missing people.

Jebabli noted that various maritime units from marine customs, the coast guard, civil protection, and the navy are participating in the search and rescue operations. Two helicopters from the National Guard and the army are also involved in the operations.

Tunisia serves as a major departure point for irregular migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. However, migration attempts have significantly decreased over the past two years due to intensified crackdowns on migration and tightened maritime border controls by Tunisian authorities.