Moroccan navy rescues 38 migrants off Atlantic coast

RABAT, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan navy rescued 38 migrants from a boat off the Atlantic coast near the port of Tan-Tan on Thursday, the official MAP news agency cited a statement from the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces as saying.

A Moroccan navy unit, in charge of coastal surveillance, intercepted the makeshift boat heading to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa, during an operation 38 km northeast of Tan-Tan.

The migrants, 36 from sub-Saharan countries and two from Asian countries, were handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for the usual administrative procedures after receiving first aid care, it added.