30 migrants rescued off Spain's coast

Members of Spain's Maritime Safety Agency early on Saturday rescued a third group of migrants from a small boat in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The news comes after two other small boats of migrants were picked up by Spanish rescue teams in recent hours, bringing the total number of people rescued to 30, Efe news reported.

Regional emergency services said that the first boat had arrived at 9.30 p.m. (local time) on Friday and that Maritime Safety Agency members took the group of seven to the Port of Tarifa.

The second boat was discovered at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday after an alert from the Red Cross, who rescued a group of 16 persons -- 12 men and four women, all from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Those rescued were taken to the Port of Tarifa where they were attended by members of the Red Cross and security forces.

According to initial reports by the rescue and emergency personnel, a woman was treated for hypothermia, but the rest were reportedly in good health.

At least 50 migrants were rescued on Friday in separate operations carried out in Motril and Tarifa.

--IANS

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