Spanish rescue ships have saved 125 migrants trying to make a nighttime crossing from Africa to Europe in three smuggling boats.
The three small boats were located before daybreak on Saturday.
The first boat, carrying 41 men and 11 women that were believed to be of sub-Saharan origin, was located by rescue teams shortly after midnight in the Alboran Sea east of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Red Cross said all were in good health.
A second group of 62 North African males, including 11 minors, were packed into a wooden boat when rescued just west of the Strait in the Atlantic Ocean, according to Associated Press.
Eleven more migrants of unknown origin were pulled from a small vessel in the Mediterranean Sea after a NATO aircraft alerted the maritime rescue service.
Tens of thousands of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, attempt to flee their home countries due to unrest, and try to reach the shores of Spain and Italy by boat each year.
Over 5,000 migrants died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2016.
Between Thursday and Friday, 73 migrants in total were rescued from five boats by Spain’s Maritime Rescue unit.
On Wednesday, a 10-year-old girl and two adults died when their boat capsized while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Spain, it is unknown of the boat’s origin.
An official of Spain’s rescue service confirmed the details of Saturday’s operations speaking anonymously in line with institution policy, stated the Associated Press.
