Influx of illegals into Spain continues

Nov 8, 2007, 10:23 GMT

Canary Islands - The influx of African undocumented immigrants into Spain continued Thursday, with nearly 200 people arriving on board two boats to the Canary Islands and to the enclave of Melilla on the Moroccan coast.

Rescuers intercepted a boat carrying 102 people off the Canary Island of El Hierro and were taking it towards Tenerife. The passengers were believed to include at least four minors.

A rubber dinghy transporting 71 Africans meanwhile landed in Melilla. Migrants have usually tried to enter Melilla by climbing over the border fence, and it is unusual for them to arrive by boat.

The dinghy, which had taken off from Morocco, was believed to have run out of fuel while heading for the Spanish mainland. The passengers included seven women and three children.

Press reports meanwhile said that another immigrant had died in Mauritania after about 100 Africans were rescued from a boat which was adrift off Nouakchott.

About 50 migrants had died of hunger, thirst and cold on board, and several died after being rescued. The Spanish daily El Mundo put the total death toll at 53.

The number of undocumented immigrants arriving in the Canaries has dropped by a third to 9,629 this year, according to the Spanish government.

Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba attributed the drop to increased cooperation with the migrants' countries of origin and to increased repatriations of illegals.