At least seven individuals lost their lives when migrants preparing to disembark from their overcrowded boat in Spain’s Canary Islands inadvertently capsized the vessel, according to emergency services, marking yet another tragedy along this perilous route.
Emergency services stationed in the Atlantic archipelago reported that rescuers, aided by a helicopter, were engaged in efforts to save individuals at the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro.
Juan Miguel Padron, the mayor of the El Pinar municipality located north of La Restinga, informed local television that there were “145 to 150 people” on board the boat.
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE broadcast footage showing rescuers tossing lifebuoys to individuals clinging to an overturned boat and treading water near El Hierro.
“While disembarking, some passengers on the boat crowded to one side, causing it to tilt and capsize,” the service stated.
“The transfer of individuals is the most precarious phase of the operation, and with vessels often overloaded and security conditions lacking, the challenges become significantly greater,” it added.
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, visited the port of La Restinga, where the incident occurred.
‘A Matter of Humanity’
Every year, Spain welcomes tens of thousands of migrants bound for Europe, who arrive in the Canary Islands from West Africa, primarily from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco.
Strong ocean currents and frail vessels render the long journey perilous.
As per the NGO Caminando Fronteras, a minimum of 10,457 migrants have died or gone missing while attempting to reach Spain by sea between January 1 and December 5, 2024.
Local authorities have consistently raised concerns about the unsustainable pressure on their resources and have expressed dissatisfaction regarding a lack of solidarity from the rest of the country.
“We are calling for decisive action from the European Union,” stated the Canary Islands’ regional leader Fernando Clavijo during a press briefing in La Restinga.
“This is the unfortunate reality we face. Those far removed in offices fail to understand it,” he added.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez remarked on X that the fatalities “should resonate with us all.”
“Lives have been lost in a desperate search for a better future. We must rise to the occasion. It’s a matter of humanity,” he asserted.
In 2024, nearly 47,000 irregular migrants arrived on the archipelago, setting an annual record for the second consecutive year, as stricter controls in the Mediterranean have pushed individuals to venture along the Atlantic route.
However, figures have declined so far this year, showing a 34.4% decrease from January 1 to May 15 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest Ministry of Interior statistics.
