tunis tunisia navy rescue almost 100 migrants sink boat southeast coast late monday authorities say hours eight people smuggle europe drown stretch water incidents coincide launch joint patrol tunisian italian navies stem migrant flow carry search rescue operations area tunisian defense ministry say tunisia coast become launch pad choice traffickers transport migrants north africa across mediterranean wooden boat pack migrants number often swell young tunisians seek work europe start land seclude sicilian beach often broad daylight activity via libya recently busy country departure route decline since july coast guard arm group smuggle hub sabratha tighten control tunisian interior ministry say late monday coast guard pull 98 tunisians include three children sink vessel near island kerkennah early monday least eight people drown nearby another boat carry dozens migrants collide tunisian navy vessel tunisia plaudits abroad transition democracy since 2011 uprise topple autocrat zine el-abidine ben ali unemployment remain high especially among country youth tunisian navy rescue 100 migrants hours eight drown