A boat carrying migrants capsized overnight off Spain’s Canary Islands, leading to the deaths of at least nine people, with 48 others reported missing, according to the national maritime rescue service.
The vessel was carrying a total of 84 individuals when it overturned near El Hierro, one of the islands in the Canary archipelago.
Rescue teams were dispatched after receiving a distress signal shortly after midnight. Out of the 84 people aboard, 27 were successfully rescued, while efforts continue to locate the missing individuals, as per a statement released by the authorities.
This disaster comes on the heels of another tragic event in early September, where 39 migrants lost their lives when their boat sank off the coast of Senegal.
Both groups of migrants were attempting the perilous journey to the Canary Islands, which often serves as a gateway for those seeking to reach mainland Europe.
In recent years, thousands of migrants have embarked on dangerous Atlantic crossings, frequently boarding overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels in hopes of reaching Europe. Many of these voyages have ended in disaster, with countless lives lost at sea.
In response to the increasing number of tragic incidents, Spain’s Prime Minister recently visited Mauritania and The Gambia, where cooperation agreements were signed to tackle human trafficking and people smuggling. The agreements also aim to create more legal channels for immigration to reduce the reliance on dangerous, illegal routes.
As of mid-August, official figures show that 22,304 migrants have successfully reached the Canary Islands in 2024, a significant increase compared to 9,864 in the same period in 2023.
The Atlantic route, however, remains one of the deadliest paths for migrants, as many of the boats used are poorly equipped to handle the strong ocean currents and challenging weather conditions. Some vessels set off from African shores as far as 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the Canary Islands.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, estimates that since 2014, at least 4,857 people have died attempting to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe. However, many aid organisations believe the actual death toll is far higher.
Spanish non-governmental organisation Caminando Fronteras, which provides support to migrants, reports that 18,680 individuals have died while trying to make the dangerous journey to Europe.
Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing as authorities continue to search for survivors from the latest tragedy, while the international community calls for further action to prevent such avoidable loss of life.