Surge in migrant arrivals to Spain despite recent storms

A WAVE of migrants arrived on the coastline of Murcia over the weekend, despite rougher than normal sea conditions as storms hit the shorelines of southern Spain.
In just 72 hours, 75 predominantly Algerian nationals were intercepted, having made the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean from north Africa.
Volunteers from Cartagena Red Cross recently requested the use of the old Hospital Naval in Canteras, to deal with the volume of migrants in such a short space of time.
They made the separate journeys on four small vessels, the last of which arrived in Cabo de Palos with 12 on board on Sunday evening, following the landing of a further 10 in at La Manga beach earlier in the day.
The migrants, all male with two aged under 18, were detained by the Guardia Civil, and said to be in good health.
The Red Cross deal with all migrants brought ashore before they deportation proceedings begin.
And sources claim that the demand for space has been so high, with a record number of arrivals, that the charity is having to use the old navy hospital to temporarily house migrants.
A formal request has been made to government officials for the alternative use of a sports pavilion at a school in Cartagena, and the setting up of a field hospital at the port of La Curra.
This is to avoid migrants being dispersed throughout the region of Murcia while they are being dealt with in the courts of Cartagena, San Javier and Lorca.