Three children and one woman died and 21 people were rescued after their migrant ship sank off the Tunisian city of Sfax, Faouzi Masmoudi, a judge in Sfax, told reporters on Wednesday.
He said all the asylum seekers were Tunisians.
Tunisia has become a major departure point for asylum-seeker boats heading across the Mediterranean Sea towards Italy.
It is a country of origin and transit for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
Since mid-2017, the number of Tunisians attempting to reach Europe has significantly increased.
They are currently the second-most represented nationality among asylum seekers arriving in Italy from the Central Mediterranean route, making up more than 17% of the arrivals in 2022.
