Spanish Coast Guard Rescues 40 Moroccan Migrants in Mediterranean, Two in Critical Condition

Cited by EFE, the rescue services indicate that among the survivors, two were in serious condition and were transported by helicopter to Almeria, while the others were transferred to the port of Motril, in the Granada region.

Originally from the Rif, the migrants had left a beach in northern Morocco the day before and then called for help, via the 112 emergency number, after their boat ran out of fuel, the same source said.

Around 4 a.m., they were rescued by the Salvamar Hamal ship, which transferred them to the port of Motril, except for two others who "had serious physical problems," one with a finger amputation and the other with a possible forearm fracture. Both were admitted to the Torre Cárdenas hospital in Almería.

The others were made available to the Spanish National Police, and more specifically to the detention center located in the port, and will be deported to Morocco in the coming days under the agreements between the two countries. They can also apply for asylum, in which case they will remain on site pending the examination of their files by the authorities.