Nine Dead, 48 Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Spain’s El Hierro Island
At least nine migrants have died and 48 remain missing after a boat capsized near the Spanish island of El Hierro on Saturday. The incident is feared to be the deadliest in 30 years of such crossings to the Canary Islands, according to rescue services.
Spanish authorities reported that 27 of the 84 migrants attempting to reach the Spanish coast were rescued. The migrants were from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The boat was located approximately four miles east of El Hierro when it sank during the rescue operation.
Manuel Barroso, head of Spain’s maritime rescue services, explained that the boat capsized after all the migrants onboard crowded to one side during the rescue, causing it to tip over. Strong winds and poor visibility further complicated the efforts. So far, nine bodies have been recovered, and the search for the missing continues.
In addition to the capsized boat, three other vessels arrived at the Canary Islands overnight, carrying a total of 208 migrants.
The region has seen a significant rise in migrant crossings, with calm seas and mild weather encouraging more attempts. Local authorities noted a 154% increase in migrants taking this perilous route from Africa, with over 21,600 arrivals recorded in the first seven months of the year, according to data from the EU’s border agency, Frontex.
The deadliest migrant shipwreck in the Canary Islands occurred in 2009 off the island of Lanzarote, where 25 people lost their lives.
