Canary Islands report increased refugee arrivals

The Spanish sea rescue service and the Red Cross are in constant operation. More than 3,200 people reached the Canary Islands in the first five days of the month, including more than 300 children and young people, including 11 babies.

Most refugee boats arrived on El Hierro, with just 11,000 inhabitants, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago. From there, the migrants are taken to aid facilities on other islands and on to mainland Spain. The island's authorities faced a similar overload as in 2024, when more than 46,800 people reached Spain across the Atlantic in one year.

At that time, the distribution of minors in particular caused political controversy. The Atlantic route is considered one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world because of the unpredictable currents and the crossing that often takes days. According to the United Nations, at least 1,200 people were missing last year and are presumed to have drowned.

Fishing boats and inflatable boats too dangerous

Aid organizations report that, in addition to the so-called cayucos - open wooden fishing boats - smuggling organizations are also increasingly using inflatable boats, sometimes with twice as many people on board as intended for such boats. Because these boats are lower and less stable, they can capsize particularly easily.