MADIRD, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The discovery of 5 bodies on Monday at the "Marisucia beach", close to Cape Trafalgar in the Southwest of Spain, brings the total number of victims from the wreck of an inflatable dinghy carrying immigrants from Morocco to Spain to 18.
Rescue services had been searching the area for a week after an inflatable dinghy carrying 40 African migrants hit rocks 150 meters off the shore of the Canos de Meca beach last Tuesday.
Twenty-two people were able to struggle to shore, while four bodies were recovered on the day of the accident, leaving 14 unaccounted for.
The recovery of the five bodies on Monday means that all 14 missing people have been accounted for and that the total number of victims from the wreck can now be confirmed at 18.
Survivors have explained in Spanish media how they paid 1,500 euros (1,687 US dollars) each to make the crossing from Morocco to Spain and that they cramped in the dinghy with only half of them were given life jackets.
Although the dinghy began its 9-mile crossing of the Straits of Gibraltar in calm conditions, the weather changed when they were halfway across.
Spanish National Police have detained two Moroccan nationals aged 32 and 21 who they consider to be the owners of the dinghy and they have been placed in custody awaiting trial.
According to figures released earlier by the Spanish Interior Ministry, an estimated 564 people lost their lives attempting to cross from North African to Spain during the first 10 months of 2018.
