First boat in convoy carrying rescued migrants arrives in Spain

Valencia, Spain, An Italian coast guard ship carrying migrants

rescued from the Mediterranean Sea arrived in the Spanish port city

of Valencia on Sunday, dpa reported.

The ship arrived at Valencia harbour around 6:20am (0420 GMT) after seven days at sea. It is one of three vessels carrying more than 600 migrants in total to Spain.

The other two ships were scheduled to arrive in three-hour intervals, Inigo Vila of the Spanish Red Cross said earlier.

The Italian coast guard ship was carrying 274 migrants, who would be provided with immediate medical examinations and care. Seven pregnant women were on board as well as 123 children.

The Aquarius, a rescue boat jointly run by the NGOs Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SOS Mediterranee, had been turned away last week by both Italy and Malta, leaving the boat stranded on the high seas until Spain offered a mooring at Valencia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency