Madrid , - Two would-be immigrants coming from Africa died while attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands, local officials said Monday.

The victims were among a total of 123 migrants on board a boat which landed on El Hierro island on Monday.

One of them was dead on arrival, while the other passed away after landing. At least three others were reported in very serious condition. Health workers said the immigrants suffered from symptoms including dehydration and hypothermia.

The same morning, about 200 Africans tried to storm the frontier of the Spanish enclave of Melilla on the Moroccan coast, local officials said.

Riot police repelled the migrants, who were throwing stones and tried to tear down the gate of the Beni Enzar border post.

Moroccan police helped to disperse the migrants. Several Spanish police officers were reported slightly injured.

The attempt was the fifth by would-be immigrants to enter Melilla since rains caused part of the border fence to collapse on October 26.

In the autumn of 2005, 14 migrants were killed during repeated attempts by thousands of people to storm Spain's North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta.

Spain receives thousands of African undocumented immigrants annually. Most of them use routes leading from the West African coast to the Canary Islands. Thousands of Africans are believed to have drowned or died of exposure during attempts to reach Spain. (dpa)