Migrant boat intercepted

A TOTAL of 18 migrants were rescued from a small boat in Benidorm last Sunday, during the second incident of its kind this year. Seventeen adults and a minor were rescued as they approached the coast of Benidorm, bringing the total number of migrants since January 1 this year to 30.

According to the Red Cross, these 18 people were spotted in the Tio Ximo cove. They were taken to the port of the city of Alicante to be attended to by the humanitarian organisation. They all appeared to be in a relatively good state of health, except for three of them, one of whom is suspected of being infected with syphilis, another with a high temperature and a third with a petrol burn.

This is the second dangerous vessel detected this year on the coasts of the Valencia Region. The first of 2023 was spotted on January 3, around 19 miles from the coast of Torrevieja and was carrying 12 passengers.

In 2022, the authorities intercepted 42 boats holding a total of 410 people, 16 of whom were women and 52 minors.