VIENNA (AP) — Spain’s maritime rescue service says it has rescued three migrants from a deflated rubber boat that is believed to have set sail from Morocco with 52 people aboard.
The service said Tuesday the three young men from sub-Saharan countries were rescued close to Spain’s western Mediterranean island of Alboran, located between Spain and Morocco. It says it has been searching for the boat since Sunday.
The survivors said they had been adrift for several days.
One rescue boat is continuing the search for more survivors.
So far this year, aid agencies say at least 2,169 migrants have died trying to reach Europe from North Africa in small and often unseaworthy smugglers’ boats.