Illegal immigrants caught on beach

A small boat packed with at least 148 illegal immigrants from Africa landed on a beach in the Canary Islands, the Interior Ministry said.

The flimsy fiberglass vessel landed as windsurfers were preparing to take to the sea, authorities said. The windsurfers and tourists alerted police.

The Africans tried to run inland but were caught, an official said. One man, who was dehydrated and suffered hypothermia, collapsed on the beach and was taken to a hospital. The rest were treated on the scene by Red Cross mobile units.

All the immigrants were males and at least six of them were minors, the official said.