Spanish rescuers have reported that four sub-Saharan African migrants lost their lives while attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands, marking yet another tragedy in a record year for irregular migration to the Atlantic archipelago.
The Spanish Maritime Rescue Service stated that a helicopter recovered one body and a survivor in Moroccan waters, around 70 nautical miles east of Lanzarote, on Wednesday evening. Later, a rescue ship brought 49 migrants onboard from the same area, including three more deceased, four women, and a minor.
All survivors were transferred to the port of Arrecife in Lanzarote.
The Canary Islands, located near northwestern Africa, have seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals, largely due to tighter patrols in the Mediterranean. Over 41,000 migrants reached the islands between January and November, setting a new record for the second consecutive year.
The perilous journey, often undertaken in overcrowded and poorly constructed vessels, is made even more dangerous by strong currents, with thousands of migrants having lost their lives in the attempt, according to NGOs.
