A tragic incident near the Spanish island of El Hierro has left at least nine migrants dead and 48 others missing after their boat capsized on Saturday.
According to rescue services, this incident could potentially become one of the deadliest in the 30-year history of migrant crossings to the Canary Islands. Emergency crews managed to rescue 27 of the 84 migrants attempting to reach the Spanish coast.
Spanish authorities reported that the migrants originated from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The rescue operation began shortly after midnight local time when a distress call was received from the boat, located about four miles east of El Hierro. Unfortunately, the boat sank during the rescue effort.
Manuel Barroso, head of Spain’s maritime rescue services, explained that the migrants all gathered on one side of the boat during the operation, causing it to capsize and sending everyone into the water. The rescue efforts were further complicated by strong winds and poor visibility.
As of now, nine bodies have been recovered, and emergency services continue to search for those who are still missing. Meanwhile, three additional boats reached the Canary Islands during the night, carrying 208 migrants.
Local authorities have noted that calm seas and gentle winds typical of late summer in the Atlantic have led to a renewed influx of migrants this month. The route from Africa to the islands, home to approximately 2.2 million residents, has seen a 154% increase in migrant crossings this year, with 21,620 migrants making the journey in the first seven months, according to data from the EU’s border agency, Frontex.
The deadliest recorded shipwreck in the history of these crossings occurred in 2009 off Lanzarote, resulting in 25 fatalities.
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