(TAP) – The National Defence Ministry initiated an investigation to identify the circumstances of the collision between a national navy unit and a boat off Kerkennah (Sfax governorate).

The boat sank and eight passengers lost their lives, according to a department press release.

A national navy unit collided with a boat of unknown origins on Sunday about 54 km off El Attaya beach in Kerkennah. 38 passengers were rescued and 8 bodies were recovered, the ministry said, specifying that research for the missing is still on.