TUNIS - A maritime unit in Tunisia's eastern province of Mahdia has rescued 64 people, who were stranded at sea while attempting to reach Europe, the Tunisian General Directorate of Customs said in a statement via its Facebook account on Saturday.

The 64 people of various nationalities were found Friday evening aboard a boat running out of fuel on the sea, when the maritime unit conducted a search and rescue operation aimed at fighting irregular immigration, according to the statement.

ALSO READ: At least nine die, six missing as migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

The statement said the initial investigation indicated that the boat had sailed from a neighboring country, without specifying which country.

These individuals have been transferred to the port of Chebba and handed over to the Tunisian Coast Guard for further legal procedures, it added.

READ MORE: Tunisia retrieves 15 bodies of undocumented immigrants off eastern coast

Situated in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia remains a major transit point for illegal immigrants seeking to cross into Europe.