Last week seven boats carrying illegal immigrants were intercepted off the coast of Almeria.(1 people were taken from the boats .It is thought that the present spell of good sea weather has encouraged more people to make the dangerous crossing from Africa.
Three of the pateras reached the Cala de la Arena beach in the Cabo de Gata natural park.These small boats have an outboard motor and are often very overcrowded.The boat was spotted out at sea and the Guardia Civil were waiting to take the 38 people into custody.
Two other pateras were intercepted at sea and were towed into trhe port of Almeria .There were 21 people on board plus a couple of minors.Later a merchant boat reported seeing a boat with 16 people on board ,about 30 nautical miles off the coast of cabo de Gata.
The last boat contained 16 people ,one of whom was heavily pregnant and another was disabled and using a wheelchair.All of these people were detained and are being cared for by the Red Cross in Almeria.
