Salvamento Marítimo rescued the 74 occupants of two RIBs yesterday afternoon,  not far from the Isla de Alborán.

The first craft that was intercepted had set off from the Moroccan coast with 16 people on board en route for Spain. They were picked up by the maritime-rescue ship, Salvamar Hamal,  around 16:30h, and taken to Motril Port where they were received by Cruz Roja.

According to Salvamento Marítimo they had received a tip-off from an NGO around 11.30h that a RIB had set off from Tensamam, so a search was begun in the Mar de Alborán area.

The search & rescue aircraft Condor IV belonging to Frontex (EU) as well as the Guardia Civil Customs, river-class launches Río Segura and Río Nacimiento, were deployed, together with the  maritime-rescue vessel, Salvamar Hamal.

The 58 other immigrants, all from south of the Sahara Desert and amongst whom were three women, were taken to Málaga Port. They had been picked up by Salvamar Anitak some 45 nautical miles to the west of the Isla de Alborán.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)