TUNIS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian maritime guard recovered 13 bodies of Sudanese migrants after their Italy-bound boat sank off the eastern Mahdia Province, the private radio station Mosaique FM reported Thursday.

According to the radio station, initial investigation shows that the boat left the coast of Jebiniana town in the southeastern Sfax province with 42 Sudanese on board.

It added that only two were able to survive on Wednesday, and the Sundanese aboard have asylum cards from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A search is still underway for the remaining migrants without giving further details, said Mosaique FM.

The public prosecutor at the Mahdia Court has launched an investigation into the incident.

Tunisia, located on the Mediterranean coast of Northwest Africa, is one of the main points of access to Europe through irregular channels.

The number of attempts at illegal immigration from the Tunisian coasts toward Italy has been increasing despite the strict measures taken by the Tunisian authorities to combat the problem. Enditem

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