Spain Picks Up 524 Migrants

GettyImages-642627330
David Ramos/Getty Images

(AP) — Spanish rescue services say they have pulled 524 migrants to safety from 12 boats attempting to reach Spain from northern Africa, currently the most used sea route into Europe.

Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service said Wednesday 240 migrants were traveling in seven boats across the Strait of Gibraltar, the shortest route, and five boats were found crossing the so-called Alboran Sea further east with a total of 284 people on board.

The service says authorities are continuing the search for more dinghies.

As a crackdown in Libya has made it more difficult to reach Italy, many are attempting the trip from Algeria and Morocco into Spain, where more than 25,000 people have already arrived by sea in 2018.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.