MADRID: The number of would-be illegal immigrants who have been intercepted while attempting to cross the Mediterranean into Spain over the last 48 hours rose to 37 on Wednesday morning when another eight were picked up by the marine rescue vessel Salvamar Alkaid 7 miles to the south-west of Tarifa in the province of Cádiz (Andalucía).
All of those on board the tiny boat were sub-Saharans, and on arrival at the port of Tarifa just after 11.00 were found to be in good health. This latest interception by the coastguards of Spain came after a warning call was received at 9.30, informing the authorities that the boat was on its way to the southern coast of Spain after setting out from Morocco.