Over the past 24 hours, maritime rescue services have intercepted 770 migrants in waters near the Canary Islands, among those rescued were 73 women and 32 minors, including four infants. The arrivals, aboard six cayucos and four inflatable boats, have overwhelmed local emergency services, which are struggling to accommodate the influx.
The most significant rescue operation took place near El Hierro, where the vessel Salvamar Acrux escorted a cayuco carrying 143 people into the port of La Restinga late on Monday night.
This group included 74 men, 47 women, and 22 minors, among them four babies. The boat had been spotted 37 kilometres from the coast by a fishing vessel, which alerted authorities.
Additional rescues continued through the night. Near Lanzarote, the Guardamar Calíope assisted an inflatable boat 66 kilometres offshore, saving 73 people, including one woman. On its return to Arrecife, it encountered a second boat carrying 68 people, among them three women and two minors.
El Hierro saw further rescues on Tuesday morning, when Salvamar Acrux located a cayuco with 75 occupants, including two women. Later in the afternoon, another cayuco carrying the same number of people was intercepted, this time including eight women and three minors. The Guardamar Polimnia and Salvamar Adhara also assisted three cayucos south of the island, collectively rescuing over 220 people.
Emergency Services Overwhelmed
The surge in arrivals has stretched the resources of Canary Islands’ emergency teams. In Lanzarote, temporary shelters have been set up at the port of Arrecife, with mattresses supplied by the island's Emergency Consortium. Local authorities have voiced concerns over the strain on infrastructure and are calling for additional support.
The concentration of arrivals in such a short period has reignited discussions about Spain’s handling of migration. The Canary Islands continue to be a key entry point for migrants attempting perilous journeys from West Africa to Europe.
Amid these challenges, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government has maintained "constant contact" with regional authorities, according to Ángel Víctor Torres, ex-President of the Canary Islands. Efforts are underway to coordinate resources and manage the crisis effectively.
The day’s final rescues took place off Lanzarote, where the Guardamar Talía assisted two inflatable boats east of the island. These boats were carrying a total of 111 people, including two women and two minors.
The high number of arrivals highlights the risks migrants face in their quest for safety and opportunity. With overcrowded facilities and limited resources, regional and national authorities must address both immediate needs and long-term strategies for managing migration in the archipelago.
