The latest total available for the number of illegal immigrants missing after their boat went down on yesterday evening 30 miles from Fuerteventura, is 5 missing presumed dead. 31 survived, 29 of whom were taken to shore aboard a Guardia Civil coastal patrol boat while two others, who had come close to drowning, were airlifted to hospital.
The alarm was raised shortly after 5pm by the crew of the fishing boat "Santo Miño," operating in waters off the south of the island, who were able to rescue some of the survivors before police, emergency services, and coast guard helicopters and lifeboats, arrived on the scene. The search for the five people still missing continued at first light this morning.
