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Two migrants have died and another is seriously ill after a small boat carrying 17 people was found drifting around 28 miles off Cabo de Palos.

 

The alert was raised by the Mein Schiff Flow cruise ship, which was sailing in the area when it reported seeing a precarious vessel adrift. The cruise ship also rescued a person who had fallen into the sea and notified the authorities about the migrant boat.

 

The Cartagena Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre mobilised the Salvamar Draco, which headed towards the location given by the cruise ship.

 

When the rescue team reached the vessel, they found a small fibreglass boat measuring around six metres in length with 17 people on board, all of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa.

 

According to the Government Delegation, one person was initially found to have died while another was unconscious and in a serious condition. Several other people on board were showing signs of extreme weakness and some were experiencing symptoms of illness after spending an extended period at sea.

 

A second death was subsequently confirmed at the scene.

 

The two bodies were transferred to a vehicle operated by funeral services and taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Cartagena, where autopsies will be carried out.

 

The migrant who was unconscious and seriously ill was evacuated to hospital for medical treatment.

 

The Salvamar Draco brought the remaining survivors back to Cartagena, with 15 people on board along with the bodies of those who had died.

 

Once they arrived at the port, the migrants underwent health checks and the relevant identification procedures were activated at the Temporary Foreigners' Assistance Centre (CATE).

 

The rescue comes just days after another small boat carrying 15 migrants was intercepted off San Pedro del Pinatar. Four people on that vessel required medical attention, according to reports at the time.

 

That boat was also a traditional fishing vessel rather than one of the larger semi-rigid boats associated with some of the organised migrant crossings seen along the Region of Murcia's coastline this summer.

 

 

Image: SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO