OMM Newsroom
About 1,500 migrants reached Spain’s Canary Islands on Saturday, AnewZ reported, citing EFE. The country’s maritime rescue service said it was the highest one-day total recorded since 2020.
Spain’s coast guard rescued 1,488 people from 14 boats, EFE reported. Arrivals to the Spanish archipelago from West African countries have increased since October.
The previous one-day record was set on Nov. 7, 2020, when 1,461 people were rescued near the Canary Islands, according to information released by the maritime rescue service on Sunday.
Migrant arrivals so far this year have fallen compared with the same period last year. However, a sharp increase in arrivals last month placed additional pressure on reception and emergency services on some Canary Islands, particularly the smaller and less populated ones.
One boat carrying 240 people arrived on Saturday; 12 were women and 36 were children. Officials said the rescued migrants were taken to El Hierro, one of the smallest Canary Islands. Most were from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry.
Twelve boats arrived on El Hierro, while one boat each reached Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy, Angel Victor Torres, will visit El Hierro on Sunday to discuss the increase in migrant arrivals.
The Atlantic route is among the most dangerous migration routes
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. Every year, thousands of migrants make the journey in overcrowded boats in an effort to reach Spanish territory, despite rough seas, strong currents and long distances.
Arrivals increase in autumn, when sea conditions along the route are generally calmer and more favorable for the crossing.
According to the government, the number of migrants arriving in the Canary Islands from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 was down 5.5% compared with the same period last year.
