Tunisia's oldest 'supercentenarian' dies aged 119
Tunisia's oldest 'supercentenarian' dies aged 119
Sassia Rouabeh passed away on Wednesday evening in the Ouled Tlijani area surrounded by family and friends.
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Born in 1900, Rouabeh witnessed Ottoman rule, French colonisation, independence and the 2011 revolution [Twitter]
Tunisia's oldest person has died at the age of 119 years in her hometown in the south of the North African country, local media reports.
Sassia Rouabeh passed away on Wednesday evening in the Ouled Tlijani area surrounded by family and friends.
Born on June 15, 1900, Rouabeh witnessed Ottoman rule, French colonisation, independence and the 2011 revolution.
She voted in the 2011 and 2014 elections.
The mayor of Rouabeh's village told The New Arab that her real birth date is widely believed to be six years earlier and that her parents registered it later - a common practice at the time.
If true the Tunisian supercentenarian would have been the oldest person ever, surpassing the official record set by France's Jeanne Calment, who died at the age of 122 years.
Several centenarians from the Middle East have claimed to have set longevity records.
In 2013, a Saudi man dubbed the "dean of centenarians" reportedly died aged 154. His claim was never verified.
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