Survivors of the tragic shipwreck off the coast of El Hierro have revealed that the people aboard the cayuco had been without water or food for two days before it capsized. In their desperation, passengers were forced to drink seawater, which contributed to panic during the rescue attempt, ultimately causing the boat to overturn. Nine people have been confirmed dead, and 48 remain missing.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning and has been described as one of the most devastating migrant tragedies in recent years. The Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, confirmed these details during a press conference held in El Hierro. Pestana was joined by the president of the island’s Cabildo, Alpidio Armas, and the commanding general of the Guardia Civil in the Canary Islands.
According to Pestana, the cayuco departed from Nouadhibou, Mauritania, six days ago, carrying an estimated 84 people. Of the 27 survivors, four are minors under the age of 16. The survivors shared their ordeal with emergency services upon reaching land, explaining how the lack of provisions led to extreme conditions onboard.
Efforts to locate the 48 missing passengers continue by land, sea, and air. Authorities have stated that it may take up to three days to recover more bodies, as the currents are expected to bring them to the surface.
This shipwreck has highlighted the perilous conditions faced by migrants using the Atlantic route to reach the Canary Islands, one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.
