Al Khaleej stuns Al Hilal with 3-2 victory, ending 57-match unbeaten run    Turki Al-Sheikh crowned "Most Influential Personality in the Last Decade" at MENA Effie Awards 2024    Saudi Arabia arrests 19,696 illegals in a week    SFDA move to impose travel ban on workers of food outlets in the event of food poisoning    GACA: 1029 complaints recorded against airlines, with least complaints in Riyadh and Buraidah airports during October    CMA plans to allow former expatriates in Saudi and other Gulf states to invest in TASI    11 killed, 23 injured in Israeli airstrike on Beirut    Trump picks billionaire Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary    WHO: Mpox remains an international public health emergency    2 Pakistanis arrested for promoting methamphetamine    Move to ban on establishing zoos in residential neighborhoods    Moody's upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to Aa3 with stable outlook    Al Okhdood halts Al Shabab's winning streak with a 1-1 draw in Saudi Pro League    Mahrez leads Al Ahli to victory over Al Fayha in Saudi Pro League    Saudi musical marvels takes center stage in Tokyo's iconic opera hall    Saudi Arabia and Japan to collaborate on training Saudi students in Manga comics Saudi Minister of Culture discusses cultural collaboration during Tokyo visit    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Spanish fishermen find scene of hell on immigrant boat
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 25 - 10 - 2007


The captain of a Spanish fishing vessel Thursday
described "Dante-esque" scenes of horror on board a boat transporting
would-be migrants from Africa to Europe, which had been adrift for 20
days after running out of fuel at open sea, according to dpa.
More than 50 migrants were believed to have died.
The fishermen first thought the boat was empty when they spotted
it, silent like a ghost ship, Wednesday evening at more than 500
kilometres off Mauritania on the West African coast, captain Jose
Maria Abreu said.
But when they approached, they saw the only survivor feebly lift
his hand among seven decomposing bodies.
The vessel, which had set sail in Mauritania, was thought to have
carried a total of at least 54 immigrants seeking to enter Europe.
Survivors kept throwing bodies into the sea until there was only
one of them left.
"He was in a very serious condition," Abreu said. "We took him on
board and helped him as we could, giving him food and water."
"I am broken, I feel bad. Before being a captain, I am a human
being," Abreu said, fighting back tears.
A Spanish hospital ship went to meet the fishing vessel, taking
the survivor and the bodies on board.
Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the first to make the
tragedy public, said about 13,000 undocumented immigrants had reached
Spanish coasts so far this year, down from 35,000 in 2006.
The drop is attributed largely to increased efforts to prevent
illegal immigration, such as maritime patrols and repatriations, in
cooperation with the European Union and African countries.
Increased surveillance has prompted migrant smugglers to choose
longer routes to the Canary Islands.
Instead of Western Sahara, Mauritania or Senegal, boats now leave
increasingly from Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau further down the
West African coast.
The boat whose only survivor was rescued on Wednesday had ventured
out to the open sea precisely to steer clear of police patrols,
captain Abreu said.
The Spanish Interior Ministry was watching 50 boats moored in
Conakry, which were suspected of trafficking with migrants, the daily
El Pais reported.
Thousands of Africans are believed to have lost their lives when
attempting to reach Spain.


Clic here to read the story from its source.