TUNIS, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia announced Tuesday the strengthening of security forces on the Kerkennah Islands off Tunisia's southeastern coast after a migrant boat sank and 58 died.
Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed made the announcement during his visit to Kerkennah, two days after the incident in which 68 others were rescued.
"The decision to strengthen the security on the islands dates back to last October," Chahed said, regretting "some delay in the execution."
Interior Ministry Spokesman Khalifa Chibani said Tunisian security forces intercepted eight individuals involved in planning this illegal transporting of migrants.
"Merchants, who manipulate our youth, must be prosecuted to pay their responsibility," added Chahed.
Kerkennah is known as one of the main illegal gateways to Europe from Tunisia. Since the beginning of this year, about 1,910 Tunisian migrants have reached Italy by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Figures showed that 9,329 Tunisians attempted to cross the Mediterranean in 2017, with 34 percent intercepted by Tunisian maritime forces, said the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights.
