Tragic boat capsize off Canary Islands coast leaves 4 women and 3 young girls dead
Breaking News
Spain's Canary Islands Witness Tragic Boat Capsize, Four Women and Three Girls Perish
Madrid - A boat carrying over a hundred migrants capsized off the coast of Spain's Canary Islands, resulting in the deaths of four women and three girls. This incident, the latest in a series of maritime tragedies, unfolded on Wednesday.
Emergency services reported that rescuers, supported by a helicopter, were deployed to the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro to save survivors.
Red Cross spokesman, Alexis Ramos, stated there were more than 100 people aboard the vessel, but could not confirm the exact number of passengers or the missing. RTVE broadcast footage showing rescuers throwing lifebuoys to individuals clinging onto the overturned boat and struggling in the waters off El Hierro.
Initially, emergency services confirmed the deaths of two women following the capsizing near La Restinga. Later, they reported two more female fatalities, followed by the deaths of two girls, aged five and sixteen. The incident thus resulted in seven deaths.
A three-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl are being treated for near-drowning at a Tenerife hospital, as helicopter transportation is arranged. Four additional minors with breathing problems are being hospitalized on El Hierro.
In 2024, Spain received tens of thousands of Europe-bound migrants arriving in the Canary Islands from west Africa, mainly from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco. Strong ocean currents and fragile vessels render the long crossing treacherous. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, at least 10,457 migrants perished or went missing during their sea journey towards Spain between January 1 and December 5, 2024.
Local authorities have repeatedly expressed concerns over the unsustainable strain on resources and a lack of solidarity from the rest of the country. Island leader Fernando Clavijo lamented the ongoing immigration challenges, urging for attention and support.
Almost 47,000 irregular arrivals reached the archipelago in 2024, surpassing the annual record for the second consecutive year. However, numbers are down by 34.4% between January 1 and May 15 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest interior ministry statistics.
This study does not specify the number of deaths in migrant boat accidents in the Canary Islands from January 1 to May 15, 2024. However, data showed that in the first five months of 2024, 4,808 people died on the Atlantic voyage to the Canaries after departing from Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia. This total includes all deaths on the Atlantic route, not solely those occurring near the Canary Islands.
The breaking news about the boat capsize off the coast of Spain's Canary Islands has highlights the urgency for improved health care facilities, given the increasing numbers of migrants and the corresponding rise in maritime tragedies, such as this one that claimed seven lives. Political parties must address the general-news issue of migration, acknowledging the need for increased resources in affected regions and solidarity from the rest of the country to prevent future losses. News reports of similar incidents underscore the need for heightened awareness and swift action to save lives.
