Sharjah 24 – Reuters: At least nine migrants have died and 48 are missing after their boat capsized near the Spanish island of El Hierro on Saturday, potentially marking the deadliest incident in 30 years of crossings to the Canary Islands. Rescue services managed to save 27 of the 84 migrants attempting to reach the Spanish coast.
The migrants were reportedly from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The rescue operation began shortly after midnight when authorities received a distress call from the boat, located about four miles east of El Hierro. The vessel capsized during the rescue as migrants shifted to one side, causing everyone to fall into the sea, according to Manuel Barroso, head of Spain's maritime rescue services. Poor visibility and wind conditions complicated the rescue efforts.
So far, nine bodies have been recovered, and search operations continue for the missing. In a related development, three other boats carrying 208 migrants successfully reached the Canary Islands overnight.
Calm seas and favorable winds have led to a surge in migration, with a 154% increase reported this year. In the first seven months alone, 21,620 migrants have crossed to the islands. The deadliest shipwreck recorded in this context occurred in 2009 off Lanzarote, resulting in 25 fatalities.
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