India, Oct. 24 -- A shipwreck off Tunisia that claimed the lives of at least 40 African migrants has once again exposed the lethal risks of irregular sea crossings on routes to Europe, the UN migration agency said on Thursday.

The tragedy came amid concerns that worsening conditions for refugees and asylum-seekers in North Africa are pushing more families to embark on perilous journeys.

An alert from a nearby fishing vessel led to the rescue of 30 people. Among the survivors were men, women and children from Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea.

"This is one of the deadliest maritime incidents recorded along the north African coast this year," IOM said in a statement.

"It underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent fur...