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Rabat – Spanish coast guards have rescued 116 sub-Saharan African migrants after the three boats carrying them capsized off the coast of Spain’s Canary Islands.
One person died in the catastrophe, Spanish sea search and rescue agency Salvamento Maritimo announced today, Tuesday, on its official Twitter account
On Monday, April 24, authorities were alerted to a boat leaving Cape Boujdour, southern Morocco, with 60 migrants on board.
The coast guards initially rescued more than 30 people after their boat capsized more than 200 kilometers off the southern area of Gran Canaria on Monday.
Meanwhile, 26 were said to be missing in the Atlantic Ocean and one was found dead. According to local media, 13 women and six babies were among the missing.
The stranded boat was discovered by a Spanish Coast Guard plane, the Sesemar 103. Two merchant vessels and a helicopter assisted people on board until a rescue ship arrived.
Two other boats carrying around 63 people, including two children, were discovered drifting in the sea. According to the coast guards, everyone on board was rescued.
The rescued migrants arrived at the Arguineguin post in Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands, at 10 am today.
Read also: Almost a Million Moroccans Legally Residing in Spain
In recent years, the Spanish Canary Islands, which are around 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Morocco, have become the main destination for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Europa Press reported earlier this month that Spain is planning to send back more irregular migrants who reached the Canary Islands through Morocco.
The same source said that 40% of Spain’s irregular migrants reached the country from Morocco.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Interior, 40,000 migrants arrived in the European country by sea last year.
After Morocco and Spain resumed cooperation in various fields, migrant-related challenges are one of the two countries’ priorities.
