Tunisia rescues 1,335 undocumented immigrants over past 24 hours

A boat with refugees and migrants arrives at Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, Feb. 29, 2020. [Xinhua]

Tunisia's maritime guards rescued 1,335 undocumented immigrants during the past 24 hours from sinking boats after they foiled 31 illegal immigration attempts, the Tunisian National Guard announced in a statement on Thursday.

The operations were carried out by National Guard units in the eastern province of Sfax, during which the security units also arrested eight organizers of the immigration trips and seized 14 steel boats, according to the statement.

Measures against the immigrants would be taken after consultation with the public prosecutor's office, noted the statement.

Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the main points of access to Europe used by undocumented immigrants.

Despite the stringent measures implemented by Tunisian authorities, the number of undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Italy from the Tunisian coast continues to rise.