Maritime Rescue services have intercepted 83 people of sub-Saharan origin, including 17 children, in a cayuco 19 kilometres off the coast of El Hierro. Among the minors were several infants just a few months old, along with seven women.
The rescue operation was initiated after the Civil Guard's SIVE radar detected a signal approximately 12 nautical miles (19.3 km) from the island. The Salvamar Adhara vessel was dispatched to the location given and safely transported all occupants to the port of La Restinga.
Emergency services were on hand to provide assistance upon arrival, but fortunately, the medical helicopter Helimer 204, which had also been deployed, was not needed for any urgent medical evacuations.
The alert was first raised at 10:00am when a distress call was received directly from the cayuco, highlighting the precarious situation and the health issues faced by those on board. The swift response from rescue services helped to avert a potentially tragic outcome.
This rescue comes against the backdrop of recent discussions on the redistribution of migrant minors within Spain, as well as ongoing concerns about the dangerous maritime routes used by migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands.
The news also follows the conclusion of a judicial investigation into the deadliest incident on the Canary migration route, where more than 80 people died after drifting for 17 days.
Authorities continue to monitor maritime routes closely, as the archipelago remains a critical point of arrival for migrants attempting the perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
