5 Illegal immigrants drown
10/09/2004 12:01  - (SA)  

Would-be immigrant suffocates 500 illegals intercepted Island flooded by illegals 18 000 immigrants whipped Trashy swim to freedom fails

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - Five African illegal immigrants were on Friday believed to have drowned after their boat sank while crossing from Morocco to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura.

Spanish rescuers resumed their search for the five, but said they had almost certainly drowned after the shipwreck 50km off the coast on Thursday.

Police said 31 passengers in the same boat, including at least two women, were saved. A fishing vessel first spotted the sinking boat, rescuing some of the immigrants and alerting police.

Most of the immigrants were reportedly sub-Saharans. Their nationalities were not given.

Dozens of Africans have drowned this year while attempting to make clandestine crossings to the Canary Islands or mainland Spain. Overloaded boats frequently capsize in stormy weather, and many of the immigrants cannot swim. The reason for Thursday's shipwreck was not known. - dpa

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