Hundreds of migrants rescued in the Strait

Scores of migrants were rescued from the Strait of Gibraltar over the weekend, with 301 people and the body of a dead woman brought to shore by Spain’s maritime rescue service.

The dead woman was spotted in the Strait of Gibraltar by a Spanish fisherman on Saturday morning who alerted the local rescue centre.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile another 136 migrants were rescued from five different boats on the same day. Men, women and some 10 juveniles were rescued in this operation.

On Sunday, some 109 Sub-Saharan migrants were rescued in two separate operations.

One vessel carrying 34 men and one women were rescued and taken to Tarifa meanwhile a second vessel carrying 65 men, six women and three minors aided by the Guardia Civil.

According to reports in the Spanish press the migrants were taken to the rescue centre in the Port of Algeciras where they received urgent care.

Yesterday morning, a group of 57 migrants were rescued after the Guardia Civil spotted the vessel leaving the Moroccan coastline at around 3am.

Salvamento Marítimo rescued those on board and made its way towards the Bay of Gibraltar.

According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration, a total of 57, 250 men, women and children arrived on Spanish shores in 2018, with record number of arrivals during the summer months.

Pic from archive by REUTERS/Jon Nazca