COASTGUARD officials have rescued 75 migrants in the Strait of Gibraltar and are still searching for another seven missing after five rafts were spotted off Spain's southern coast on Easter Monday.
As at 19.30 last night, four bodies had been recovered from the sea from a sixth craft which capsized on Sunday, and another seven Africans remained unaccounted for.
A Gambian man aged around 20, described as 'very distressed', explained that rough seas and high winds had upset the plastic dinghy he was travelling on – which was designed for children to play with at the beach and not for sailing – soon after it left the Moroccan coast at around 02.00 mainland Spain time.
He said all his fellow passengers fell overboard and that he was the only one of the 12 who had made it safely ashore.
One of the five rafts which arrived yesterday, and which was not much bigger than the boat that tipped over, was carrying 38 people – including a baby and five women – but all occupants were rescued and said to be in good health.
Another four toy-boats were carrying a total of 37 Africans attempting to enter Europe via the back door to escape poverty, political repression and armed conflict.
They were rescued by Moroccan authorities with the help of the Spanish coastguard and the Red Cross.
All 75 who reached dry land yesterday, as well as the man who survived Sunday's wreckage, were taken to the port of Tarifa (Cádiz province) and given first aid, blankets, food and drink.
