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world news Diabierna 30 aPriL 2021

Spain recovers 24 bodies from migrant boat off Canaries

BARCELONA, Spain
(AP) — The bodies of 24 The deadly Atlantic sea jour-
sub-Saharan migrants, ney from the Western coast
among them two minors, of Africa to the Spanish ar-
who are believed to have chipelago has become a ma-
died of thirst and hunger jor route for migrants and
as they tried to cross from asylum-seekers fleeing con-
the west coast of Africa to flict, violence and economic
the Canary Islands, were hardship exacerbated by the
brought to land by Spain's coronavirus pandemic. De-
Maritime Rescue Service pending on the point of de-
Wednesday evening. parture along the coast of
West Africa, migrant boats
Their wooden boat was first have to navigate anywhere
spotted by a Spanish Air from 400 to 1,500 kilometers
Force plane drifting in the (250 to 940 miles) to reach
Atlantic Ocean some 490 ki- the European Islands, and
lometers (304 miles) from often run out of food, water
the island of El Hierro on and fuel before reaching their
Monday. destination.

Only three people on board Some 4,300 migrants and ref-
were still alive but barely ugees have reached the Ca-
moving according to rescu- naries so far this year while
ers. Two men and one woman 90 people, including women
were airlifted in serious con- and children, are known to
dition by a military helicopter have perished along the way,
to the island of Tenerife and the U.N.'s migration and ref-
were hospitalized, the Span- ugee agencies said in a joint The true death toll, however, is believed to be much high- er, the agency admits.
ish government delegation in statement Wednesday.
the Canary Islands said.
In 2020 at least 849 people
According to Spanish Air died or went missing trying
Force rescuers speaking to to reach the Canaries, while
local television, survivors re- 23,000 reached their desti-
ported they had spent 22 days nation, according to IOM's
at sea. Missing Migrants Project.

Philippines extends virus

lockdown to mid-May

MANILA, Philippines — Mayors, however, cut a nine-
The Philippines is extend- hour night curfew in metro-
ing an already monthlong politan Manila to six hours to
lockdown by two weeks as help battered businesses.
the country's worst coro-
navirus infection spike Duterte is warning mayors
starts to ease but remains and village chiefs that they
alarming. face jail if they don't prevent
gatherings and other events
President Rodrigo Duterte that violate the pandemic re-
said in televised remarks strictions.
Thursday night that the
second-most restrictive Confirmed coronavirus in-
lockdown level will now fections in the Philippines
run through May 14 in met- soared past 1 million Mon-
ropolitan Manila and four day, with deaths now at more
nearby provinces, a region of than 17,000, the second high-
more than 25 million people. est in Southeast Asia.