Over 80,500 Moroccans crossed Gibraltar strait on way home for holidays

Over 80,500 Moroccans living in Europe and 17,787 vehicles have crossed the Spanish territory since June 15 on their way back home for summer holidays, according to statistics revealed by the Spanish civil rescue department.

Since June 15 when the operation called "Transit 2004" officially started ships have made a total 569 trips from Spain's various ports to Morocco.

In the southern port of Algesiras, 57,118 persons sailed on board 476 shuttles, followed by the port of Almeria (15,765 passengers), Alicante (4,087) and Malaga (3,538 Moroccans).

Some 2.8 million Moroccan expatriates in Europe are expected to spend their summer holidays in their home country, an increase of 8% compared to last summer's.

Morocco and Spain have agreed to mobilize 8,800 civil rescue agents and 10,400 doctors and medics.

The Spanish government had decided to close down between July 1st and August 5 the port of Tarifa (southern Spain) used by thousands of Moroccans every year, invoking poor infrastructure.