Five drown in rescue bid

THREE women and two babies drowned after falling into the Mediterranean as they approached southern Spain from Africa aboard a damaged inflatable boat, the interior ministry said yesterday.

Spokesman Antonio Cruz said officials were alerted to the approach of the boat off the coast of Motril at 4pm on Saturday and launched a rescue operation. Coastguards saw a dinghy partially underwater with part of its inflatable sections punctured.

When those aboard saw the rescue vessel a group stood up, causing the boat to rock and some people to fall into the water. A total of 37 were rescued.