At least five migrants die in Atlantic boat disaster en route to Canary Islands
Quick Look
- At least five African migrants died after a boat carrying over 100 people encountered difficulties in the Atlantic Ocean while attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands.
- Forty-four survivors were rescued, with some reporting the vessel had been adrift for nearly a month after departing Gambia.
- An NGO claims the death toll is 83, including three women and a baby, though Spanish authorities have not confirmed the higher figure.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest migration paths to Europe due to strong currents and overloaded vessels. In the first eight months of 2024, 5,163 migrants reached the islands by sea, a 57% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
Rescuers help a migrant disembarking from a Spanish coast guard vessel at the port of Arguineguin, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain (Picture credit: Reuters)
At least five African migrants died after a boat carrying more than 100 people ran into trouble in the Atlantic Ocean while attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands, authorities said on Thursday. Forty-four survivors were brought to safety after Spain's Maritime Rescue Service spotted the “precarious” vessel drifting south of Gran Canaria on Wednesday. Three survivors were evacuated by helicopter to a hospital, while the remaining 41 were taken by boat to the port of Arguineguín early Thursday and cared for by the Red Cross, news agency AP reported.
Survivors say boat was adrift for nearly a month
All the survivors were men, some of them underage, and were from Mali or Senegal, Red Cross spokesperson José Antonio Rodríguez Verona said. He said the migrants were disoriented and dehydrated, with many collapsing or vomiting after reaching land. Survivors said the boat had left Gambia and had been stranded at sea for “many, many days”, with some estimating they had spent nearly a month adrift. According to the survivors, the vessel had originally carried more than 100 people, including women and a baby. They said people began dying after the boat ran out of provisions and passengers fell ill after drinking seawater. Spain's Maritime Rescue Service said strong winds and waves up to 2.5 metres initially prevented rescuers from retrieving the five bodies found on board.
NGO puts death toll at 83
Helena Maleno, founder of migrant rights group Walking Borders, said 83 people had died during the voyage, including three women and a baby girl. She said the boat had left Gambia 27 days earlier. According to news agency AFP, Spain's maritime rescue service said it could not confirm the higher death toll, with a spokeswoman saying the other alleged victims had “not been found or rescued”. The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the deadliest migration routes to Europe because of strong currents and the often overloaded vessels used for the crossing. 5,163 migrants reached the Canary Islands by sea between January 1 and August 31, a 57% drop from the same period last year.
End of Article
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Spanish authorities will launch an investigation into the circumstances of the boat's voyage and potential smuggling involvement.
Likely · Within weeks
NGOs like Walking Borders will increase pressure on the EU to establish legal and safe migration pathways from West Africa.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What caused the boat to run into trouble?
- Why were the additional bodies not recovered by authorities?
- What specific provisions ran out on the vessel?
- Are there plans to investigate the smuggling network behind the voyage?
