TUNIS, (Reuters) – The number of deaths from several migrant vesselwrecks off Tunisian shores has risen up to 17, according to a judicial officer.

Four boats with 120 African migrants were reported by Tunisia’s coast guard to have sunk near Sfax on Saturday.

Mourad Turki spokesperson for Sfax Courts said another 5 bodies were discovered on Sunday. These are in addition to 12 that the coast guard found overnight. Coast guard officials stated that 98 individuals had been rescued.

Sfax is a popular departure point for those fleeing war and poverty in Africa, the Middle East or seeking better living conditions in Europe.

Many people have died off Tunisia’s coast in the last few months. Also, there has been an increase in crossings attempts from Libya and Tunisia to Italy.

Over a hundred thousand people made the risky crossing of the Mediterranean in recent years.