Maritime Rescue intercepted between 50 and 60 migrants on a large inflatable rubber boat near Lanzarote yesterday (Saturday). Among the rescued were ten women and three children, all reported to be in apparent good health, however, the occupants revealed that they had to throw two dead bodies overboard during their perilous journey.
The alert came earlier in the morning, indicating that two boats had left the Moroccan town of Tan Tan. The Sasemar 103 aircraft later located the boats in different positions, prompting Maritime Rescue to dispatch the Guardamar Talía and the Salvamar Al Nair to intercept them.
The first boat was initially spotted by the vessel Adnan N, which was redirected by maritime controllers to the location of the rubber boat. The Adnan N escorted the boat until the arrival of the Guardamar Talía.
At around 6:00pm the rescue of the occupants was completed. Several people had to be pulled from the water, but all those rescued appeared to be in good health. However, they reported to the rescue team that two deceased had been thrown overboard into the sea during the voyage.
Following the rescue, the Guardamar Talía moved towards the location given of the second boat to assist the Salvamar Al Nair in retrieving survivors on this boat. Both boats were then escorted to Puerto Naos in Arrecife for medical support arriving at 10:35pm and 11:15pm.
