Nearly 1,500 migrants arrive in Canary Islands in one day
The Spanish coastguard rescued 1,488 people from 14 boats on Saturday, marking the highest daily arrival count since 2020.
The Spanish maritime rescue service recorded 1,488 migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands on Saturday, according to reports from Firstpost and the EFE news agency. This figure is the highest number of people rescued in a single day since November 7, 2020, when 1,461 people were rescued.
Twelve of the 14 boats arrived in El Hierro, while one boat landed in Gran Canaria and another in Tenerife. One vessel alone carried 240 people, including 12 women and 36 children. Authorities stated that most of those rescued came from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Conakry.
The surge in arrivals from West African countries began in October, placing strain on reception and emergency services, particularly on smaller and less densely populated islands. However, government data shows that total crossings between January 1 and October 31 were 5.5 per cent lower than the same period last year.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the world's deadliest migration crossings due to rough seas and long distances. Arrivals often rise during the autumn months when sea conditions are calmer.
Spain’s Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres was scheduled to visit El Hierro on Sunday to discuss the rise in arrivals.