ARCHIVED - 42 migrants intercepted as 5 small boats reach the Costa Cálida; Mazarron, Cartagena and la Union
The Algerians were apprehended in Puerto de Mazarrón, Cabo de Palos, La Unión and Escombreras
The arrival of calmer conditions at sea coincided on Wednesday with another wave of small boats attempting to cross the Mediterranean from northern Africa carrying unauthorized migrants to southern Spain, and 5 boats were intercepted off the coast of the Region of Murcia.
A total of 42 migrants were taken into custody during the day, 12 of them after being spotted on two small boats in the Cala del Cocón in Cabo de Palos. A further 8 reached the beach of El Alamillo in Puerto de Mazarrón, 8 more landed close to the gun battery of Conejos-Escombreras near Cartagena and another 6 at the Playa de Cola Caballo in the municipality of La Unión.
Later in the day another 8 more migrants were apprehended in Cabo de Palos, and all of those intercepted, who are of Algerian nationality, are reported to have been in good health on arrival at the dock of Escombreras in Cartagena, where marquees and mattresses have been installed since last summer as temporary accommodation for unauthorized migrants. All 42 underwent PCR testing and will be quarantined as a precaution.
With the weather over the western Mediterranean set fair it would come as no surprise if the migrants intercepted on Wednesday were the first of a new wave of Africans hoping to enter EU territory, and with the moon waxing and becoming full on Sunday; weather conditions are also favourable for those attempting the crossing from the Moroccan and Algerian coasts.
Another patera also reached the Alicante coast.