Passenger Vessel Sinks Off Morocco, 14 Dead

At least 14 passengers headed to Spain have died when their craft sunk off the coast of Morocco.

The sinking reportedly took place Thursday in the Mediterranean Sea off the Moroccan city of Alhucemas, according to a Moroccan official.

The ship was headed from Morocco to Spain. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service sent a Spanish air force plane and rescue ships to the scene. They found the boat 18 miles from the Moroccan coast.

At least 70 people were on board, 17 have been rescued. Spanish authorities transported the survivors back to Morocco.

A search is under way for more survivors.

CNN stated that the people on the ship are thought to be migrants escaping to Europe. Many Africans looking to flee their homelands have tried to reach Europe by boat.