Spanish authorities rescue 569 North African migrants in flotilla of more than 16 boats including two men in a canoe in the Strait of Gibraltar
- The migrants were rescued from a busy shipping lane with treacherous current
- Fair weather and calm seas have seen increase in migrants try to cross to Spain
- Spain's new centre-left government announced a softer stance on migration
Spanish authorities say they have rescued 264 people in 16 boats in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The country's Maritime Rescue Service says those rescued Saturday from the busy shipping lane with treacherous currents included two men were pulled from a canoe.
They were part of a total of 569 migrants from North Africa rescued.
Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa rest after arriving to the port of Tarifa, near Cadiz, southern Spain, left. Migrants are pictured right on a boat arrive at the the port
A girl is helped by medical staff after landing. Spanish authorities say they have rescued 264 people in 16 boats in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Twenty-seven others were found in the Mediterranean between Spain and Morocco and 129 more off the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
Fair weather and calm seas in recent days have brought a increase in migrants' attempts to reach the Spanish coast via the Western Mediterranean route.
Spain's new center-left government recently announced a softer stance on migration, extending public health care to foreigners without residence permits.
A week ago, Spain took in 630 migrants from the French aid ship Aquarius after Malta and Italy, which were closer, refused to grant the ship access to their ports.
Among the African migrants were 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 other children and seven pregnant women.
They were met by emergency health workers and psychologists at the port of Valencia.
Their arrival in Spain marked the end of a nightmare nine-day journey, which first saw them rescued off the coast of Libya Friday only to get stuck in the Mediterranean after two countries denied them entry.
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