ARCHIVED - Fifth patera in 48 hours reaches Alicante coastline with 17 illegal immigrants on board

The boat was intercepted between Benidorm and Altea in the Marina Baixa, Alicante province.

A patera with 17 irregular immigrants on board has been intercepted off the coast between Benidorm and Altea - the fifth to reach Alicante province's coastline in 48 hours.

According to the Red Cross (Cruz Roja), the boat was stopped by the Guardia Civil before it reached the shore on Wednesday, June 30, about 30 to 40 nautical miles out to sea.

A Maritime Rescue team transferred the adults, all said to be "in good health" and believed to be Algerian, to Alicante port where they were assisted by Red Cross volunteers and PCR tests were carried out. Any who test positive for Covid will be placed into quarantine.

With the latest arrival, a total of 62 irregular immigrants have been rescued from five pateras in 48 hours on the Costa Blanca, after two boats were intercepted in Calpe on Monday, and another two to in Alfas del Pi and Javea.

It's not clear whether all the 45 arrivals were adults, or whether there were children onboard the boats, but they too are believed to be Algerian economic migrants. 

IMAGE: Archive