Spanish coast guard rescues 37 migrants in the Atlantic

Spanish coast guards rescued 37 migrants in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, eight miles from the port of Arguineguin on the Spanish Island of Gran Canaria.

Emer McCarthy reports.

Coast guards rescued 37 migrants in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday (March 25), eight miles off the Spanish island of Gran Canaria.

Wearing masks and gloves, members of the Red Cross checked the body temperatures of the migrants before they were allowed to disembark.

Interior Ministry figures show that overall sea arrivals of migrants since March 15 have decreased by 20.5 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Yet as patrols continue to tighten access to the Mediterranean coast, migrants have opted for alternative routes in the Atlantic.