Maritime Rescue have intercepted a small boat carrying 16 migrants, but it is believed that five people may have perished.
Those rescued stated that two boats had set out from Algeria, one with ten people on board and another with eleven passengers. One of the boats reportedly capsized. The remaining boat managed to rescue six of the occupants but another five were lost.
The rescued passengers were taken to Cartagena where the Red Cross was on hand to offer assistance. It is thought that as many as five of the passengers could be minors and tests are being carried out at the Santa Lucia hospital.