Residents of the Tunisian coastal town of Ben Guerdane have attended the funerals of eight young migrants who drowned after the boat they were in sank on Friday.
They were among the reportedly 15 people who took to sea in a small vessel as they tried to cross the Mediterranean hoping for a better life in Europe.
Only one person has been found alive. He said he had been adrift for about 48 hours before being rescued by a commercial vessel.
The boat reportedly set off on Thursday morning from a location between Zarkis and Ben Guerdane, heading to the Italian island of Lampedusa, about 145 kilometres away.
Speaking at the funeral, Zarkis resident Ali Eknis, said they were paying their respects to “these young people [who] dreamed of a better future”.
