Increasing numbers of migrants are trying to enter Spain by sea or by crossing into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco, which are the only European territories in Africa.
“The coast guard recovered two vessels heading toward the peninsula, with 93 people, 13 of whom have unfortunately died,” the Spanish government delegation in Melilla said in a statement.
Consternación por los #migrantes fallecidos en sendos naufragios en #Barbate y #Melilla de las embarcaciones con las que trataban de alcanzar una vida mejor, trágicos sucesos que coinciden con el 30 aniversario del primer naufragio en #España, que fue en #Tarifa. #fronterasur pic.twitter.com/L7VGWHHWpW
— Delegación del Gobierno en Andalucía (@DGobAndalucia) November 5, 2018
It said nine of the dead — all men — were recovered at sea and Red Cross efforts to revive four others also failed.
The two vessels were recovered 20 miles (32 km) off the coast of Melilla, it said, without giving details on the state of the vessels.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 47,000 migrants have arrived by sea in Spain since the start of the year and another 564 have died or disappeared during the journey, often made aboard overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels.
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