Two dead, five missing as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

TUNIS/LILLE — At least two Tunisians including a baby died when their Europe-bound boat sank Saturday off the North African country's southeastern shores, the coastguard said, adding five others were missing.

The vessel carrying 20 Tunisians went down at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) 120 metres from the beach in Gabes, a statement said as search operations continue.

It said 13 passengers had been rescued.

"Two bodies have been recovered, one of a 20-year-old man and the other of an infant," said the statement.

Authorities in the city of Gabes have launched an investigation to "determine the circumstances of this tragedy", the coastguard added.

Tunisia is a major gateway for local and foreign migrants attempting perilous voyages in often rickety boats in the hopes of a better life in Europe.

More than 1,800 people have died this year in shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean migration route, the world's deadliest, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

The confirmed toll rose to 67 on Friday, surpassing the number of people killed when a tsunami struck the Big Island in 1960. 

“Without a doubt, there will be more fatalities. We don’t know ultimately how many will have occurred,” Governor Josh Green said.

Crews from Honolulu arrived on Maui along with search and rescue teams equipped with K-9 cadaver dogs, Maui County said.

Residents were being allowed back in under heavy restrictions, with the county announcing an overnight curfew.

“These measures include no unauthorised public access beyond barricaded areas and a curfew from 10:00pm to 6:00am daily in historic Lahaina town and affected areas,” the government said. 

“The curfew is intended to protect residences and property.”

Todd said he would be staying at his home because he was worried that looters might try to take what he had.

Firefighters were continuing to extinguish flare-ups and contain wildfires in Lahaina, with spot blazes evident to AFP as a team walked through the town.

Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier said Thursday that as many as 1,000 people could be unaccounted for, though he stressed that this did not mean they were missing or dead.

Communications in the western part of the island remains tricky, and Pelletier said many of those whose whereabouts were not known could simply be out of reach.

The fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest.

Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc.

Thousands have been left homeless by the devastating fire, and the governor told reporters on Thursday that a massive operation was swinging into action to find accommodations.

“We are going to need to house thousands of people,” he told a press conference.

President Joe Biden on Thursday declared the fires a “major disaster” and unblocked federal aid for relief efforts, with rebuilding expected to take years.