84 illegal immigrants drown
31/08/2006 07:30  - (SA)  

Immigrants feared drowned Immigrants feared drowned 24 African refugees drowned 24 African refugees drowned Baby drowns as boat sinks 39 illegal immigrants drown Immigrants drown near Italy Immigrants forced to jump

Madrid - Eighty-four African would-be immigrants drowned off Mauritania last Saturday after their boats sank attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands, reports said on Wednesday.

Mauritanian fishermen and rescuers retrieved the bodies from the sea and beaches near the capital Nouakchott.

Two boats sank off the coast of West Africa during the weekend. It was reported that 17 bodies were found on Sunday, but the number has climbed to 84.

An estimated 150 people were on board. Eighteen of the boat's passengers were known to have survived. Most of the migrants were believed to be Senegalese.

Spanish officials earlier said that 490 bodies had been retrieved from the sea off the Canaries and West Africa this year.

Up to 3 000 people were estimated to have drowned while heading for the Canaries, which had received nearly 19 000 Africans so far in 2006.

Sapa-dpa

 

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