Tragedy struck off the coast of Spain’s Canary Islands as a boat carrying migrants from Mauritania was discovered by Spanish authorities late Tuesday. The vessel, spotted near the remote island of El Hierro, was carrying dozens of individuals seeking refuge. Amid the rescue operation conducted by Spain’s maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, a grim discovery was made: four individuals had perished during the treacherous journey.
The survivors, numbering 64, were plucked from the vessel, but many were found in precarious health conditions, highlighting the perilous nature of their voyage. Among the rescued, two individuals in critical condition were airlifted to a hospital in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, while another 14 were transported to medical facilities on El Hierro for treatment of various ailments, including hypothermia, dehydration, and severe skin infections.
Tragically, among those aboard the vessel were nine minors, underscoring the vulnerability of the migrants embarking on these perilous journeys.
The route to the Canary Islands across the Atlantic Ocean stands as one of the most perilous migration paths globally. The UN migration agency’s Missing Migrants Project reported a staggering toll of 191 individuals dead or missing during the first two months of 2024 alone, as they attempted to reach the shores of the Canary Islands. However, this figure is likely an underestimation, with many boats vanishing without a trace. Walking Borders, a charitable organization that collates data from migrant families and official sources, presents even higher figures of fatalities and disappearances.
The situation in 2024 has seen a marked increase in arrivals compared to previous years, with over 12,000 individuals reaching the islands from Africa by this point in the year. This surge follows a record-breaking year in 2023, during which nearly 40,000 people made the perilous journey, overwhelming local resources and infrastructure, particularly on El Hierro, which struggled to provide adequate care and support to the unprecedented influx of newcomers.