Tragedy struck near Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday when a migrant boat capsized just before reaching the safety of shore, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including four women and three girls, emergency services reported.
The incident occurred near the port of La Restinga on El Hierro island. Rescue teams, supported by a helicopter, were actively engaged in saving survivors clinging to the overturned vessel in the Atlantic waters.
Initially, emergency services confirmed the deaths of two women, which later increased to four women and three girls aged five and sixteen. Several children requiring urgent medical attention were transported to hospitals, including a three-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl airlifted to Tenerife, the largest island in the archipelago. Four other minors experiencing respiratory difficulties were admitted to a hospital on El Hierro.
A spokesperson for the Red Cross indicated that the boat might have carried over 100 migrants, though the exact number of those missing remains unknown. The perilous maritime route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, frequently used by migrants from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, is notorious for dangerous ocean currents and unseaworthy vessels.
According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, between January and early December 2024, at least 10,457 migrants died or went missing attempting to reach Spain by sea. The Canary Islands have seen mounting pressure due to record numbers of irregular arrivals — nearly 47,000 in 2024 alone — exacerbated by tightened controls on Mediterranean routes pushing migrants toward the Atlantic crossing.
Regional leader Fernando Clavijo highlighted the humanitarian crisis, urging wider recognition of the challenges faced locally, stating, "Once again we witness the harshest face of immigration which those far away fail to appreciate in its true measure. Please listen to us!" Despite a 34.4% decrease in arrivals in early 2025 compared to the previous year, the severity of risks remains a critical concern.
