SARAJEVO: Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service says that nearly 900 people have been rescued from waters south of the Iberian Peninsula over the past two days, as an increase in arrivals increases pressure on the country’s infrastructure to deal with migration.
Some of the migrants are being kept overnight in a rescue boat docked in the port of Algeciras, as the makeshift emergency centers to host and identify them in sports facilities are already over capacity.
The maritime rescue service says more than 100 migrants were waiting on Wednesday to be transferred to land, 48 of them having spent the night on board.
The service rescued on Wednesday 387 people from 29 boats in the Strait of Gibraltar, the shortest stretch of water separating Europe from North Africa.
On Tuesday, 484 migrants were rescued from 30 boats, including 150 in an area further east into the Mediterranean.
The number of migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Spain this year has surpassed arrivals in Italy.
According to the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency, 18,653 people reached Spain by sea from January until July 18.
Spain says nearly 900 migrants rescued in 2 days
Spain says nearly 900 migrants rescued in 2 days
- Some of the migrants are being kept overnight in a rescue boat docked in the port of Algeciras
