Granada, Spain- Spanish rescuers Tuesday continued combing the sea for 14 Nigerian undocumented immigrants whose boat capsized off the southern coast, but there was little hope of finding them alive.

The search was launched Monday after 23 other Nigerians who had travelled on the same boat were rescued from the Mediterranean some 100 kilometres off Motril.

Those missing included four women and a minor. The boat had set off from Morocco on Saturday, and was caught amid four-metre waves in stormy weather.

Calmer weather was making the search easier, rescuers said. They intended to continue searching through the day, though they did not expect to find any of the victims alive.

Thousands of Africans are believed to have drowned or died of exposure during attempts to cross over to the Spanish mainland or the Canary Islands.

Hundreds died last year alone, according to non-governmental organizations in southern Spain. (dpa)