Spanish Coast Guard rescue 340 migrants crossing Mediterranean

Spanish rescuers have saved more than 340 migrants in the Mediterranean, including one person from north Africa who was attempting the crossing on board a truck tyre.


Salvamento Maritimo, Spain's coastguards, said their ships had rescued 240 people spread out in 12 boats, 10 of them in the Strait of Gibraltar and two others in the Alboran Sea, and on the truck tyre.

A spokesman added that the Guardia Civil police force had also saved more than 100 migrants in the Mediterranean.

Spain is set to overtake Italy as the country of choice for migrants trying to reach Europe.

Some 16,902 people have arrived in Spain so far this year, the International Organisation for Migration's most recent figures show, while a further 294 died in the attempt.

All in all, more than 1,400 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean this year, they added.
  (rte)
 14/7/18