The Spanish coast guard has rescued three people who were stowed on top of the rudder of a ship that arrived in the Canary Islands from Nigeria. In a photograph distributed by the coastguard on Monday, the migrants are shown perched on the rudder of the oil and chemical tanker Althini II. The Althini II arrived in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria on Monday after an 11-day voyage from Lagos in Nigeria, according to Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking website. The Spanish-owned Canary Islands are a popular gateway for African migrants attempting to reach Europe. Last year, more than 20,000 migrants crossed from the West African coastline to the Canary Islands, according to the Red Cross.

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