In just 24 hours, over 300 migrants landed on Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands, according to Spanish rescue services. This surge in arrivals occurred between Sunday and Monday, August 18-19. The most significant landing involved 198 migrants on two cayucos, traditional dugout canoes, who were intercepted by rescue boats near El Hierro in the Canary Islands. These individuals, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were transported to the port of La Restinga, where they received assistance from Red Cross volunteers. While most were in good health, five individuals, including a heavily pregnant woman, were taken to the hospital for further care. Witnesses reported that one of the cayucos, carrying 175 migrants from Gambia, Cameroon, and Senegal, had set out from Dakar, Senegal, six days prior.
On Monday, an additional 92 migrants, primarily from the Maghreb region, arrived in the Balearic Islands. They reached Mallorca, Formentera, and Ibiza on five separate boats, as confirmed by the maritime rescue service.
Since the beginning of the year, Spain has seen 31,155 irregular migrant arrivals, marking a 66% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Of these, 2,124 individuals reached the Canary and Balearic Islands, according to data from the Spanish interior ministry.
In response to the ongoing migration crisis, Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez has announced a trip to Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal on August 27-29. These nations are the primary sources of the migration flows toward the Canary Islands. The visit aims to strengthen cooperation with these countries and curb the irregular sea arrivals. This follows Sanchez’s previous visit to Mauritania with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during which Spain committed over 300 million euros in investments, including funds for Spanish businesses and development projects. Additionally, during recent visits by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares to Gambia and Senegal, Spain allocated 180 million euros for cooperation and development, particularly to support youth employment over the next four years.