A tragic maritime incident occurred early Saturday morning off the coast of El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals and leaving 48 others missing. The boat, which was carrying a total of 84 migrants, capsized during a rescue operation initiated by Spain's maritime rescue service.
The distress call was received shortly after midnight, prompting an immediate response from rescue teams. As rescuers approached the scene, the overcrowded vessel capsized when too many passengers shifted to one side in an attempt to board rescue boats. Despite the challenging conditions, including gusts of wind reaching 20 knots and darkness hampering visibility, rescuers managed to save 27 individuals from the water and recover nine bodies.
This incident highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via perilous sea routes. The Atlantic passage from West Africa to the Canary Islands is known as one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. In recent years, thousands of migrants have lost their lives while attempting this journey in overcrowded and often unseaworthy vessels.
Regional authorities have expressed deep concern over this latest tragedy. Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canary Islands, stated that this incident underscores the urgent need for decisive action from both Spain and the European Union to address what he termed a "structural humanitarian tragedy." He emphasized that lives are being lost just meters from Europe’s southern border.
The ongoing crisis has seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands. As of this year, over 26,000 individuals have made the dangerous crossing, compared to approximately 14,000 during the same period last year. This surge is attributed to various factors, including worsening conditions in migrants' home countries and increased attempts to reach mainland Europe.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that since 2014, nearly 4,857 people have died on this treacherous route. However, many advocacy groups argue that this figure is likely an undercount, with some estimates suggesting that as many as 18,680 migrants have perished while trying to reach Europe.