The ferry ‘Juan J Sister’, travelling the route between Melilla and Málaga has rescued 44 illegal immigrants who were trying to make their way to Spain in a small, inflatable boat.
Maritime Rescue had received a call saying that between 40 and 50 people had set off from Morocco for Spain on Tuesday but nothing had been heard from them since and a search, involving a helicopter and boats, had been launched.
The immigrants, all sub-Saharans, were treated by medical personnel on the ferry. Amongst the immigrants were 18 women and 6 children.