A total of 49 illegal immigrants were intercepted last night, arriving off the Almeria coast in three boats. One of the boats was on the point of sinking when the Maritime Rescue services arrived on the scene.
The rescue vessel Salvamar Denébola had just rescued 26 people from two boats when notification of the third boat came through. As they arrived on the scene, about 40 miles off Carboneras, they spotted the half-sunken boat with 23 rather agitated passengers on board.
Most of the immigrants were of Algerian origin and included an invalid who was unable to walk without the aid of crutches and an elderly woman. All are now in the safe custody of the National Police awaiting processing.
All told, since Sunday, 118 illegal immigrants have been intercepted off the Spanish coast.