3 dead, 7 missing as migrant boat capsizes off Spain

At least three people are confirmed dead and seven others are missing after a small boat carrying migrants capsized on Friday morning en route from Morocco's north coast to southern Spain, reported Xinhua.

The dinghy, which was reported to be carrying 12 people, capsized in waters off Motril port. The two survivors were taken to the Torrecardenas University Hospital in nearby Almeria.

Spain's maritime rescue services confirmed that their rescue coordination center in Almeria was alerted at 8 a.m. local time, after the cruise ship MS Azura reported sighting a semi-sunken vessel with five people on board, located 26 nautical miles off Cape Sacratif.

A rescue service helicopter was quickly dispatched and rescued two people, who were alive but suffering from serious hypothermia. However, the other three people on board had died. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for the seven individuals who are still missing.

At least 2,789 people lost their lives on the migrant route from Morocco to southern Spain last year, according to the Andalusian Pro-Human Rights Association.