Forty-five illegal sub-Saharan Africans were rescued and three bodies, including a child, were fished out on Wednesday after their inflatable boat capsized off the coast of the north-eastern city of Nador, local authorities said.

Moroccan authorities have launched an investigation on this incident under the supervision of the public prosecutor's office.

Tens of thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants living illegally in Morocco try to reach Europe every year, hoping to get a better life.

Figures suggest that illegal immigrants arriving in Spain via Morocco have dropped by 90 percent since 2002.

Over the past few years, Morocco has adopted a strict policy against illegal migrants to Europe, but opened a door for regularizing their status in the country.

In last December, Morocco launched the second phase of the regularization of illegal immigrants in the country, after the first phase led to granting about 25,000 people legal status.

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