MADRID, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A Spanish boat that rescued 60 migrants will dock in the country's city of Barcelona after being denied entry to Italy and Malta
The rescue ship from Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms rescued 60 people, including five women, a nine-year-old and three teenagers, from a patched-up rubber dinghy in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya on Saturday.
"Barcelona is ready to receive the Open Arms boat and all the people rescued," Mayor Ada Colau said. The boat is expected to arrive in four days.
The migrants, who come from 14 countries, are reportedly in a weak condition.
The boat was denied entry by Italy as Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the boat could "forget about arriving in an Italian port" and asked them to go to Malta, which also refused to let them dock.
A few weeks ago Spain received the Aquarius rescue vessel and two other vessels from the Italian Coast Guard carrying 630 migrants after Italy and Malta refused to let them dock.
The European Union has held a meeting to address the issue, announcing that countries could voluntarily create centers for migrants inside the union.
