7 dead on migrant boat off Spanish coast, dozens hospitalized

Madrid (Uttam Hindu News): Spain At least seven people have died and 12 others have been hospitalized after a migrant boat capsized on Tuesday morning about 140 kilometers south of the island of Gran Canaria. Spanish maritime rescue services gave this information. Rescue services said the deaths were caused by severe dehydration as the migrants tried to reach the Spanish coast. The boat was spotted by a merchant ship around 8pm on Monday, which alerted rescue services. Two helicopters and a rescue ship were dispatched to assist.

Two bodies were found on the migrant boat, while there were 34 survivors, including 27 men and seven women. They are reported from sub-Saharan Africa. Survivors reported that five men had died while making the dangerous crossing from the northwest coast of Africa, their bodies thrown into the sea. The Canary Islands emergency services and the Red Cross set up an emergency center to treat survivors on the pier. Most of them were suffering from severe dehydration, with two 24-year-old men in critical condition. Another migrant vessel was sighted on 6 March off the southern coast of El Hierro island. Five of those on board died and 15 were hospitalized.