At least nine migrants have died and 48 are missing after their boat capsized near the Spanish island of El Hierro. This incident could potentially be the deadliest in 30 years of migrant crossings to the Canary Islands. The Spanish authorities were able to rescue 27 out of the 84 migrants who were attempting to reach the Spanish coast. The migrants on board were from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal.
The rescue team received a distress call shortly after midnight from the boat, which was located about four miles east of El Hierro. Unfortunately, during the rescue operation, the boat sank due to all the migrants concentrating on one side. Manuel Barroso, head of Spain’s maritime rescue services, explained that everyone fell into the sea as a result. The challenging weather conditions with strong winds and poor visibility made it even more difficult for rescuers.
So far, nine bodies have been recovered while emergency services continue their search for others who are still missing. In addition to this tragic incident, three other boats carrying a total of 208 migrants reached the Canary Islands during that night.
Local authorities have noted that calm seas and gentle winds associated with late summer in the Atlantic Ocean off Western Africa have led to an increase in migrant activity recently. Data from Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, revealed a significant surge in migration along this route this year with a 154 percent increase compared to previous years.
It is important to highlight that over three decades of migrant crossings to these islands, one shipwreck stands out as being particularly deadly: in 2009 off Lanzarote Island where 25 people lost their lives.
