Seven people, including four women and three girls, died on Wednesday after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of the Canary Islands, according to Spanish emergency services.
The vessel, which was carrying over 100 people, was found 9.6 kilometers from the shore. According to Spain’s maritime rescue service, the boat overturned as rescuers began evacuating children while docking at the port of El Hierro island.
The rescue operation involved members of the Red Cross and the Spanish maritime service, who pulled several people from the water. The Canary Islands, located off the western coast of Africa, have long been one of the main — but extremely dangerous — migration routes for those trying to reach Europe. According to the Spanish human rights organization Caminando Fronteras, more than 10,000 people died on this route last year.
Despite the risks, a record number of migrants arrived in 2024: more than 43,000 people reached the Canary Islands, local authorities report. Amid ongoing migration pressure, several EU countries are reconsidering their migration policies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed speeding up the return process for asylum seekers and establishing temporary detention centers outside the EU, following the controversial agreement between Italy and Albania.
