A small boat carrying 280 migrants has made landfall in Spain’s Canary Islands, marking the largest number of migrants ever to arrive in the archipelago in a single instance. The vessel arrived on the remote island of El Hierro, located approximately 380km (238 miles) off the western coast of Africa, on Tuesday.
According to rescue workers, the migrants onboard were of sub-Saharan African origin. The Canary Islands route is known to be one of the most frequently used and perilous routes for migrants from Africa seeking to reach Europe.
Journalist and former migration adviser Txema Santana expressed astonishment on social media, stating, “I’ve never seen a boat with so many people on board,” after the vessel’s arrival.
Tragically, the International Organization for Migration reports that since the beginning of this year, 140 individuals have died or gone missing while attempting to make the crossing. As stricter controls have been implemented to prevent people from crossing the Mediterranean from Africa’s northern coast, the use of the Canary Islands route has seen an increase in recent years.
According to data from Spain’s interior ministry, between January 1 and September 30 of this year, a total of 14,976 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, representing a 19.8% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Just a few days ago, Senegal’s navy intercepted four boats carrying over 600 people in a span of three days. This further highlights the ongoing challenges and risks faced by migrants attempting to reach safer shores.
In August, a tragic incident occurred when a boat carrying an estimated 60 people capsized off Cape Verde, an African island nation situated along the migration route to the Canary Islands. The boat was eventually discovered, but the loss of lives serves as a somber reminder of the dangers involved in these perilous journeys.