At least 14 passengers on a Spain-bound vessel died when the craft sunk off the coast of Morocco, a Moroccan official said Friday, Oct 26, according to CNN.

Mustapha Khalfi, Moroccan minister of communication, said the sinking took place Thursday in the Mediterranean Sea off the Moroccan city of Alhucemas.

The ship was headed from Morocco to Spain, Khalfi said.

At least 70 people were on board, Khalfi said, and 17 have been rescued and taken to Alhucemas.

A search is under way for more survivors, Khalfi said.