Refugees trying to reach Italy die after boats sink off coast of Tunisia

A woman at a protest in Tunis in February holding a banner reading ‘Feminist, Tunisian, African. We are all men and women immigrants.’ Photograph: Jihed Abidellaoui/Reuters

At least 29 people from sub-Saharan Africa have died while trying to reach Italy after two boats carrying them across the Mediterranean sank off the coast of Tunisia.

The deaths, which occurred early on Sunday, are the latest tragedies involving people departing from the north African country, where the authorities have launched a crackdown on undocumented people from sub-Saharan Africa.