At least 45 African immigrants have drowned in two separate boat accidents off the coast of Mauritania, Spanish radio reported Monday, according to DPA. At least 23 people died in the first incident overnight when their boat sank north of Mauritania near the western Sahara border. Twenty of its passengers were rescued by the Moroccan coastguard. The cause of the accident remains unclear but the boat was reported to have been overcrowded. Another 22 people died in a second boat accident while 24 passengers were taken to safety by a passing Mauritanian ship. It is believed both boats were en route to Spain's Canary Islands, a hotspot for illegal African immigrants attempting to enter EU states. In the past weekend alone several boatloads carrying over 200 immigrants have arrived at the various islands.
