More than 600 migrants rescued off Spain in one day
A total of 616 migrants on board some 20 vessels, including a kayak, were rescued Monday off the coast of Spain, the national rescue service said.
Among those picked up on or near the Strait of Gibraltar or the Alboran Sea further east in the Mediterranean, three youngsters from north Africa were found trying to get to Spain on a kayak, Salvamento Maritimo said on Twitter.
Hoy hemos rescatado en El Estrecho a 377 personas de 18 pateras. Las unidades marítimas que han auxiliado a las personas son el Luz de Mar, Guardamar Concepción Arenal, Salvamar Atria, Salvamar Denébola y Salvamar Arcturus. También ha participado el helicóptero Helimer 202 pic.twitter.com/MSDAxEao7C
— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) June 25, 2018
Rescates alrededores isla de Alborán: 236 rescatados. SAR Mastelero 3 pateras (51+54+35)(2 menores). Llega a Almería a las 19:45h. Salvamar Hamal 2 pateras (52+44) (2 menores). Llega a Motril a las 19:20h. Ha participado avión Condor II pic.twitter.com/LHJTAw9Yqw
— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) June 25, 2018
The operations come eight days after 630 migrants arrived in the Spanish port of Valencia aboard three vessels, including the French NGO rescue ship Aquarius.
READ MORE:
-
Over 400 migrants rescued in three operations off Spain
-
First Aquarius migrants arrive to cheers in Spain
The Aquarius rescued the migrants off Libya's coast on June 9th but Italy's new populist government and Malta both refused to let it dock, triggering an international outcry before Spain stepped in to help.
An EU mini summit took place on Sunday to discuss the migration issue but no concrete measures were agreed on.
Spain is the third biggest destination for migrants in the European Union after Italy and Greece.
While the number of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean has halved this year compared to 2017, the total reaching Spain has tripled, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Some 12,155 people have arrived in Spain so far this year, the IOM's most recent figures show, and a further 292 died in the attempt.
All in all, close to 1,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean this year, they add.
READ ALSO: ‘It's been a long time since I was hugged like this': Aquarius girl, 12, to rescuer
Comments
See Also
Among those picked up on or near the Strait of Gibraltar or the Alboran Sea further east in the Mediterranean, three youngsters from north Africa were found trying to get to Spain on a kayak, Salvamento Maritimo said on Twitter.
Hoy hemos rescatado en El Estrecho a 377 personas de 18 pateras. Las unidades marítimas que han auxiliado a las personas son el Luz de Mar, Guardamar Concepción Arenal, Salvamar Atria, Salvamar Denébola y Salvamar Arcturus. También ha participado el helicóptero Helimer 202 pic.twitter.com/MSDAxEao7C
— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) June 25, 2018
Rescates alrededores isla de Alborán: 236 rescatados. SAR Mastelero 3 pateras (51+54+35)(2 menores). Llega a Almería a las 19:45h. Salvamar Hamal 2 pateras (52+44) (2 menores). Llega a Motril a las 19:20h. Ha participado avión Condor II pic.twitter.com/LHJTAw9Yqw
— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) June 25, 2018
The operations come eight days after 630 migrants arrived in the Spanish port of Valencia aboard three vessels, including the French NGO rescue ship Aquarius.
READ MORE:
- Over 400 migrants rescued in three operations off Spain
- First Aquarius migrants arrive to cheers in Spain
The Aquarius rescued the migrants off Libya's coast on June 9th but Italy's new populist government and Malta both refused to let it dock, triggering an international outcry before Spain stepped in to help.
An EU mini summit took place on Sunday to discuss the migration issue but no concrete measures were agreed on.
Spain is the third biggest destination for migrants in the European Union after Italy and Greece.
While the number of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean has halved this year compared to 2017, the total reaching Spain has tripled, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Some 12,155 people have arrived in Spain so far this year, the IOM's most recent figures show, and a further 292 died in the attempt.
All in all, close to 1,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean this year, they add.
READ ALSO: ‘It's been a long time since I was hugged like this': Aquarius girl, 12, to rescuer
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.