Europe News

Over 50 migrants feared to have died off West Africa (Roundup)

Oct 25, 2007, 13:06 GMT

170 Madrid - More than 50 would-be migrants are feared to have died off West Africa when attempting to reach Europe by boat, Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Thursday. The minister said a Spanish fishing vessel rescued one survivor from a boat carrying six bodies late Wednesday. Rescue services put the number of bodies at seven. The boat was believed to have initially transported at least 54 people. Rescue services said the boat was located in the Atlantic at about 500 kilometres off Senegal. The only survivor, who was weak but recovering, said the vessel had been adrift for about 20 days. A Spanish hospital ship was sent to meet the fishing boat, which was heading for the Canary Islands. Rubalcaba said 13,000 undocumented immigrants have reached Spanish coasts so far this year, down from 35,000 in 2006. The drop is attributed largely to increased efforts to prevent illegal immigration, such as maritime patrols and repatriations. Thousands of Africans are believed to have lost their lives when attempting to reach Spain. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Europe News

Over 50 migrants feared to have died off West Africa (Roundup)

On the Web

Your Talkback on this Story

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Europe

Older Talkback

Like M&C on Facebook

Viral Web

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print