(TAP) – Another body of an illegal migrant was recovered on Tuesday by a Navy vessel after the shipwreck of a makeshift boat off Kerkennah on October 8, 2017, National Defence Ministry spokesman, Colonel Belhassan Oueslati told TAP.

A Navy vessel, on October 8, collided with an “unknown boat” 54 kms from El Attaya Beach off Kerkennah, leading to the latter’s shipwreck.

Like many others, the body was found stuck inside the wreck of the boat, bringing the number of victims of this tragedy to 45, according to a new provisional toll, he added.

Oueslati also said search is still continuing to find other victims.

Nine other bodies were found this morning inside the wreck, in addition to 27 bodies recovered on Sunday and last Monday and 8 others on the day of the wreck.

Eight of the survivors of the sinking were rescued, according to the same source.

The National Defence Department had initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident on October 9.

Several family members of the missing persons had gathered in front of the main naval base of Sfax on Monday to know the fate of their relatives.

During this rally, they hold the navy vessel fully responsible for the accident.