Search party rescues immigrant boat off Alicante

Search party rescues immigrant boat off Alicante
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By m.p. - Nov 5, 2009 - 1:37 PM

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It's not yet been confirmed if it is the patera which has been lost off the coast since Tuesday

The search resumed this Thursday morning for the immigrant boat believed to be lost off the Costa Blanca, after fishermen in the area reported spotting what could be a patera boat some 40 miles to the east of Alicante port. The sighting was reported to the authorities shortly after 11.30 am, and EFE reports that boats from the Coastguard and the Civil Guard immediately set off to try and locate the vessel.

A regional government helicopter was brought in to assist in the search.

The initial search for the lost patera was launched on Tuesday afternoon after one of the passengers contacted the 112 emergency number for help, but was put on standby from Thursday until the news of the possible sighting came through from the crew of the fishing boat. There are understood to be around a dozen people travelling on board the lost boat.

It was confirmed by Diario Información later on Thursday morning that the boat had been located by the rescue helicopter and the passengers, between 8 and 9 people, were being transferred on board the Coastguard boat. It’s not yet known if they are, indeed, the travellers who had been lost since Tuesday.

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