An accident off Tunisia’s southern coast led to the drowning of 46 migrants while dozens were rescued by the coast guard.
Security officials said 180 migrants were on the boat with a rescue operation still ongoing.
Tunisia is increasingly being used as launch pad for migrants heading into Europe due to tightened controls from Libya’s coastguard.
This latest accident is the most deadly shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea since February when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya.