Seven people are accused of running a migrant boat and killing four passengers during a dangerous trip to the Canary Islands, according to authorities in Tenerife. The incident happened on Sunday, and the details of the case have shocked many.
The boat, which was carrying 207 asylum seekers, arrived at El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, on November 3. The passengers on board told the authorities that the boat had started its journey in Gambia, a country in West Africa. Most of the passengers boarded the boat in Bassoul, a town in Senegal, before the boat began its long journey of about 800 nautical miles to Spain.
Why did this tragedy happen?
Witnesses say that during the journey, one of the passengers became confused and disoriented because of the difficult and harsh conditions on the boat. The crew of the boat, which was made up of three captains, blamed this passenger for all the problems the group was facing. According to Spain’s Guardia Civil, the captains attacked this passenger, and things quickly turned violent.
The crew allegedly beat the passenger who was blamed and also attacked other passengers who tried to help the person. The authorities believe that the crew killed four passengers to scare the others on the boat. One more passenger was seriously injured, suffering a deep chest wound, which could have been caused by a stabbing. This person had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
Three of the victims have been identified, and their families have been informed about what happened. Authorities are still working to identify the fourth victim, whose name has not yet been confirmed.
How dangerous is this migration route?
The route to the Canary Islands has become more popular for migrants traveling from Africa, especially in 2024. Since the beginning of the year, more than 45,000 people have arrived on the Canary Islands, with more than 600 migrants arriving on December 28 alone. This shows how many people are trying to make this dangerous journey.
Sadly, this route is very dangerous. The NGO Caminando Fronteras, which tracks migrant deaths, reports that nearly 10,000 people have died at sea while trying to reach the Canary Islands in 2024. This is a very high number, much higher than the death toll on other migration routes, such as the Central Mediterranean route to Italy. The situation is very serious, and many lives are being lost as people try to reach safety in Europe.