More than 100 illegal immigrants land on Murcia coast in a wave of overnight arrivals
Boats came ashore at San Pedro del Pinatar, Águilas and Cartagena, with at least 17 children among those on board
More than 100 migrants reached the coastline of the Region of Murcia between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, with five boats coming ashore or being intercepted at three separate locations along the coast.
The authorities confirmed the arrivals, which took place at San Pedro del Pinatar, Águilas and Cartagena on February 21-22, with at least 17 minors among the 109 people brought ashore in total.
The first two boats landed on Saturday afternoon at Torre Derribada in the municipality of San Pedro del Pinatar. Those two vessels, along with a third that arrived on the Águilas coast the same afternoon, brought 51 people to the Region, including three minors and one woman.
It's understood the San Pedro landing wasn't the original plan, with the boats apparently having aimed for the Campoamor area in the province of Alicante before ending up in Murcian waters instead.
A second boat was then intercepted off Águilas during the night, carrying 43 people including one woman and 14 minors. On Sunday morning, a further vessel was reported close to the coast at Escombreras in Cartagena, with 15 people on board.
Those passengers were assisted by the Red Cross on arrival and transported by Guardia Civil bus to the Temporary Foreigners' Assistance Centre, known as the CATE.
Image: Archive
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