Brazil rescues African, Guyanese migrants drifting at sea

Brazilian fishermen rescued two dozen migrants from Africa and Guyana found drifting near the north-east coast of Brazil after 35 days at sea, officials and local media said Sunday.

The migrants came from the small South American country of Guyana and from Nigeria and Senegal on the other side of the Atlantic, the human rights department for Brazil’s state of Maranhao said in a statement.

There were 25 migrants — all men — on the boat and two Brazilians who were suspected of being people traffickers, O Imparcial and G1 news sites reported.

After spending 35 days at sea, their boat was found by fishermen off the coast of Sao Jose de Ribamar, south of the Amazon river, G1 said.

On being rescued late Saturday, they were “given medical attention and food,” before being taken for processing by the Brazilian federal police, the Maranhao human rights department said.

“The group will be put into temporary housing provided by the state,” it said. “The federal police will investigate the possible committing of crimes against the foreigners in relation to their arrival in Brazil and evaluate their legal situation in Brazil.”