These are migrants from African countries south of the Sahara.
– There were 37 people on board the vessel when it left the coast of Tunisia and then sank on Friday afternoon, says Faouzi Masmoudi, spokesperson for the court in the Tunisian coastal city of Sfax.
He adds that 17 people could be saved.
The incident means that at least six migrant boats have now sunk since the beginning of March – and around 100 people are missing or have been found dead during the period.
The Tunisian coast guard states that it has been able to establish that over 14,000 migrants have crossed over to Europe between January and March.