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Rescued migrants returned home
25/04/2007 22:11 - (SA)
Madrid - Ninety-one African would-be immigrants who were rescued by a Spanish fishing vessel off the coast of Mauritania were on Wednesday being returned to Senegal, said diplomatic sources in Madrid.
The migrants were rescued in dramatic circumstances after their boat sprang several leaks earlier this week. At least 12 of them died before and after the rescue, leaving 91 to be returned to Senegal.
The boat carrying a group of Africans was first spotted by a Spanish fishing vessel when it was about to sink at about 90km off the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou on Monday.
The passengers included four women, several children and several seriously ill people.
Immigrants came from Senegal
A body was also on board. The migrants said they had thrown at least 10 other bodies overboard during their journey.
The fishing boat MS Segundo San Rafael took the immigrants on board, where another one of them died.
Spain asked Mauritanian authorities for help, but the north- west African country refused to comply, arguing that the immigrant boat was not in its water zone, according to the daily El Pais.
The hospital ship MS Esperanza del Mar, which was travelling in the area to assist Spanish fishermen, finally took the migrants on board on Tuesday.
At least 25 of them were treated for symptoms including hypothermia, dehydration and anxiety. Some had to have fingers amputated.
The Spanish government was in contact with Mauritania and Senegal to clarify the boat's departure point.
Senegal recognised that the immigrants had left from there and allowed the hospital ship to bring them back, according to diplomatic sources.
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